Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof will last 20 years, depending on storm damage and usual wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials last longer, but they are more expensive to install.
The amount and level of care you give your roof along the way can reduce or increase the time between roof replacements. If you are good about caring for your roof, you could end up only having to replace your roof once in your lifetime, just so long as you give it the attention it requires.
Installing a new roof is very expensive regardless of the type of roof. You’re a lot better off in the long run doing maintenance and small repairs as they arise in order to help lengthen the lifetime of your roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing abilities – or just don’t like the idea of climbing up a tall ladder – you can call 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 occurs is by far the cheapest route to increase the lifetime of your roof. Here are a couple of preventative care tips for your roof:
Cut limbs that hang over your roof. Strong winds and rain storms can break limbs and even push over trees. Decaying, dying trees will also drop their branches onto your roof if they are not regularly pruned. Falling limbs damage all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and even metal roofs.
Install gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers installed on top of your gutters to reduce clogging. They can reduce the amount of gutter cleaning that you need to do and help prevent overflow into your yard. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning company.
Have regular inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after a few years, and metal roofs will be dented or begin to show signs of age such as rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a pro will let you know if there’s an issue that should 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 lifetime. There are regular and plant-based products so you can feel safe about spraying these coatings on your home, where they will inevitably run off and come in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation system are in good condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation issue. Limited ventilation will lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly cause mold and mildew growth, as well as odors in your home. Besides being a nuisance, mold and mildew will ruin wood and other home materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Every once in a while, you’ll have to do some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done in a timely manner, you’ll help prevent leaks and increase the lifetime of your roof, regardless of the materials it’s made from.
Do these projects at least once every 12 months to prevent damages and keep your roof looking good:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof removes debris, mold and dirt. This will reduce the risk of pests building nests on your roof, and it will instantly freshen up the appearance of your home. Surprise Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Surprise as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your gutters often, especially while it’s raining, to see if there are any clogs that need to be removed. Most gutter experts recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring months and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it probably 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 removed quickly. Most homeowners prefer to have a professional do this so no unnecessary damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages happen, but so long as you tend to them right away, no serious problems should result. If you are a capable handyman, you may feel confident doing small repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies are able 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 roof. If they start coming off, the roof will begin to look worn, but, most importantly, it won’t protect what’s below. Only a small section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is superficial.
Replace fascia. Sometimes, the part of your roof that rests between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will need to be replaced. The fascia can leak, letting mold and mildew into your home, plus pests.
Re-caulk around the flashings. Flashings fill in 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 complicated work is necessary, replacing the flashing is an easy task 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 lifetime of a roof being around 20 and 30 years, you will likely only need to install a new one once or twice. Of course, if you move frequently, you could end up installing a lot of roofs in your lifetime.
When purchasing a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can include the price of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or ask that the home seller have the roof replaced before the sale. When trying to sell a home, give Surprise Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Surprise to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.