Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The average shingle roof will last 20 years, more or less depending on storm damage and wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials can last longer, but they are more expensive to install.
The extent and level of care you give your roof can reduce or extend the time between new roof replacements. If you are lucky, you might end up only having to install a new roof once in your lifetime, just so long as you give it the maintenance it needs.
Roof replacement is expensive regardless of the type of roof. You’re much better off doing maintenance and minor repairs as they arise to extend the lifetime of your roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing abilities – or just can’t stand the idea of climbing up a tall ladder – you can hire a licensed, certified roofer to help you with all your maintenance and roof repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing things 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 recommendations for your roof:
Cut tree limbs that hang over your roof. Gusting winds and rain can break tree limbs and even push over whole trees. Rotting, dying trees will also drop their heavy branches right onto your roof if they are not regularly pruned. Falling limbs damage all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and metal roofs.
Install gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers that can be installed over your gutters to prevent clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning that you need to do and prevent overflow into your yard. You can install gutter guards yourself 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 aging such as rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a roofing pro will let you know if there’s an issue that should be handled.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings replenish the oils from roof shingles so they don’t dry out, making 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 products on your home, where they will run off and possibly be in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation system are in prime condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation problem. Lack of ventilation will cause trapped moisture. This can quickly result in mold and mildew growth, as well as odors throughout your home. Besides being a nuisance, mold and mildew will ruin wood and other materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Here and there, you’ll want to do some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done often enough, you’ll prevent leaks and increase the lifetime of your roof, regardless of the type.
Do these things at least once a year to prevent damages and keep your roof looking nice:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof removes debris, mold and dirt. This will limit the risk of pests building nests on your roof, and it will instantly renew the appearance of your home. Columbus Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Columbus as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your gutters regularly, especially if it’s raining, to observe if there are any clogs that have to be cleared. Most gutter experts recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring months and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it likely means that your roof is too shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots can attach to roof shingles and other types of materials and ruin them if it isn’t eliminated fast enough. Typically 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 take care of them right away, no major problems should occur. If you are a capable handyman, you may feel confident doing minor roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies are trained to tackle these fast fixes for you to keep your roof in optimal condition.
Replace damaged or worn shingles. Shingles have asphalt bits 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 look worn, but, most importantly, it won’t protect what’s underneath. Only a small section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is superficial.
Replace fascia. Sometimes, the section of your roof that rests between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will have to be replaced. The fascia can sometimes leak, allowing mold and mildew into your home, let alone pests.
Re-caulk around the flashings. Flashings fill in gaps on the roof where it is difficult to place roofing material. It’s the perfect location for leaks on a roof, and it is 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 lifetime of a roof being between 20 and 30 years, you will likely only need to replace it one or two times. Of course, if you move several times, you might end up installing a lot of roofs during your lifetime.
When purchasing a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can also include the cost of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or request that the seller has the roof replaced before the sale. When selling a home, give Columbus Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Columbus to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.