Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The typical shingle roof will last 20-25 years, depending on damage and wear and tear. Other roofing materials last longer, but they are also more expensive to install.
The extent and level of care you give your roof can shorten or extend the time between roof replacements. If you are good about caring for your roof, you might end up only having to install a new roof on your home once in your lifetime, so long as you give it the maintenance it needs.
Installing a new roof is very expensive no matter the type of roof. You’re much better off in the long run doing routine maintenance and small repairs as they arise in order to help extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing abilities – or just don’t like the idea of climbing a tall ladder – you can hire a licensed, certified roofer to help you with all your maintenance and repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing tasks to prevent roof damage before it occurs is the most affordable way to lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are a few preventative care recommendations for your home’s roof:
Cut tree branches that hang over your roof.Powerful winds and rain can break tree branches and even push over whole trees. Decaying, dying trees will also drop their heavy branches onto your roof if they are not 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 limit the amount of gutter cleaning you need to do and help prevent overflow into your landscaping. You can install gutter guards yourself or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning service.
Have routine inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after only a few years, and metal roofs can get dented or begin to show signs of age like rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a pro will let you know if there’s an issue that needs to be taken care of.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings renew the oils from shingles so they don’t dry out, making your roof last 5 years or more beyond its expected lifespan. There are regular and plant-based options so you can feel safe about spraying these coatings on your home, where they will inevitably run off and possibly be in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation system are in good condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation problem. Lack of ventilation will lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly lead to 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 materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
From time to time, you’ll want to complete some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done in a timely manner, you’ll help prevent leaks and lengthen the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the type.
Do these chores at least once every 12 months to prevent damages and keep your home’s roof looking good:
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 renew the curb appeal. Chandler Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Chandler as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out the gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your gutters regularly, especially if it’s raining, to see if there are clogs that should be removed. Most gutter experts recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it means that your roof is shaded and stays very moist. Moss’s roots will attach to shingles and other materials and ruin them if it isn’t gotten rid of fast enough. Many homeowners choose to have a professional service 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 issues should result. If you are a capable handyman, you may feel confident doing small repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies are trained to complete 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 strong rain. These asphalt chunks help to protect your home’s roof. If they start to come off, the roof will look worn, but, more importantly, it won’t protect what’s below. Only a small section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is only superficial.
Replace fascia. Sometimes, the section of your home’s roof that rests between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will also have to be replaced. The fascia can leak, letting mold and mildew into your home, plus 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 perfect location for leaks, and it is very easily damaged. If more complicated work is necessary, replacing the flashing is also an easy task for roofers and proficient homeowners as well.
YOUR ROOF NEEDS LOVE TOO!
The roof is often 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 might end up buying a lot of roofs during your lifetime.
When purchasing a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can include the cost of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or ask that the seller have the roof replaced before the sale. When selling a home, give Chandler Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Chandler to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.