Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof lasts around 20 years, depending on damage and usual wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials will last longer, but they are more expensive to install.
The extent and level of care you give your roof along the way can reduce or extend the time between roof replacements. If you are lucky, you could end up only having to replace your roof on your home once in your lifetime, just as long as you give it the attention it needs.
Roof replacement is very expensive no matter the type of roof you have. You’re better off doing routine maintenance and minor repairs as they arise in order to help extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing skills – or just can’t stand the thought of climbing up a tall ladder – you can always hire a licensed, certified roofer to give you a hand with all your maintenance and repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing tasks to prevent roof damage before it happens is by far the most affordable way to extend the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are some preventative care ideas for your home’s roof:
Cut tree limbs hanging over your roof. Powerful winds and rain storms can break tree limbs and even knock over trees. Decaying, dying trees can also drop their branches right onto your roof if they are not routinely pruned. Falling limbs damage all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and even metal roofs.
Install rain gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers installed over your rain gutters to reduce clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning that you need to do and help prevent overflow into your yard. You can install gutter guards yourself or leave the work to a roofer or gutter cleaning company.
Have routine inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after a couple of years, and metal roofs can get dented or start to show signs of aging like rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a pro can let you know if there’s a problem that has to be handled.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings renew the oils from shingles so they don’t dry out, helping your roof last 5 years or more beyond its expected lifespan. There are regular and plant-based options so you can feel safe about putting these products on your home, where they will run off and be in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation system are in prime condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation issue. Limited ventilation can cause trapped moisture. This can quickly result in mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors in your home. Besides being a nuisance, mold and mildew will wreak havoc on wood and other home materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
From time to time, you’ll need to complete some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done regularly, you’ll help prevent leaks and extend the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the materials it’s made of.
Do these projects at least once every 12 months to prevent damages and keep your home’s roof looking nice:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof will remove debris, mold and dirt. This will limit the risk of pests and rodents building nests on your home’s roof, and it will instantly renew the appearance of your home. Raleigh Pressure Wash Plus offers roof cleaning in Raleigh as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your rain gutters regularly, especially while it’s raining, to observe if there are clogs that should be cleared. Most pros recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it means that your roof is shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots will attach to shingles and other types of materials and ruin them if it isn’t gotten rid of quickly. Many homeowners decide to have a professional do this so no unnecessary damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages will happen, but as long as you take care of them right away, no serious problems should result. If you are a handyman, you might feel confident enough doing minor repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofers are more than willing to tackle these fast fixes for you to keep your roof in good shape.
Replace damaged or worn shingles. Shingles have asphalt pieces attached to them. The texture can be removed from the shingles by debris, hail or heavy rain storms. These asphalt chunks help protect your home’s roof. If they start to come off, the roof will start to look worn, but, more importantly, it won’t protect what’s underneath. Only a section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is superficial.
Replace fascia. Sometimes, the part of your home’s roof that sits between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will need to be replaced. The fascia can leak, allowing mold and mildew into your home, and sometimes pests.
Re-caulk around the flashings. Flashings fill in the gaps on the roof where it is impossible to place roofing material. It’s the most common location for leaks, and it is very easily damaged. If more extensive work is necessary, replacing the flashing is an easy project for professionals and proficient homeowners as well.
YOUR ROOF NEEDS LOVE TOO!
The roof is one of the most expensive home maintenance costs. With the typical lifespan of a roof being between 20 and 30 years, you will likely only need to replace it once or twice. Of course, if you move often, you could end up installing quite a few roofs during your lifetime.
When buying a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your time. You can also include the cost of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or request that the home seller have the roof replaced before the sale. When trying to sell a home, give Raleigh Pressure Wash Plus a call for professional roof cleaning in Raleigh to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.