Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The average shingle roof will last 20-25 years, more or less depending on storm damage and wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials last longer, but are also more expensive to install.
The amount and quality of care you give your roof along the way can reduce or lengthen the time between roof replacements. If you play your cards right, you could end up only having to replace your roof on your home once in your lifetime, so long as you give it the care it needs.
Roof replacement is very expensive no matter the type of roof you have. You’re a lot better off in the long run doing routine maintenance and small repairs as they arise in order to help lengthen the lifetime of your roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing abilities – or just hate the thought of climbing up a ladder – you can always find a licensed, certified roofer to help you with all of your maintenance and repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing things to prevent most roof damage before it happens is the cheapest way to lengthen the lifetime of your roof. Here are a couple of preventative care measures for your roof:
Cut branches hanging over your roof. High winds and rain storms can break branches and even push over trees. Decaying, dying trees can also drop their heavy branches right onto your roof if they are not routinely pruned. Falling limbs ruin all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and even metal roofs.
Install gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers that can be installed over your gutters to reduce clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning that you have to do and help prevent rain flowing into your landscaping. You can install gutter guards yourself or leave the work to a roofer or gutter cleaning service.
Have regular inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after only a few years, and metal roofs will be dented or begin to show signs of aging like rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a pro can let you know if there’s an issue that should be taken care of.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings replenish the oils from 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 options so you can feel safe about spraying these coatings on your home, where they will inevitably run off and be in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation systems are in good condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation issue. Limited ventilation can lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors throughout your home. Besides being a nuisance, mold and mildew will eat away at wood and other materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Here and there, you’ll have to do some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done regularly, you’ll help prevent leaks and lengthen the lifetime of your roof, regardless of the materials it’s made from.
Do these chores at least once a year to prevent damages and keep your roof looking good:
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 immediately freshen up the curb appeal. Hampton Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Hampton as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out the gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check 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 and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it means that your roof is shaded and stays very moist. Moss’s roots attach to shingles and other types of materials and damage them if it isn’t eliminated quickly. Many homeowners decide to have a professional do this so no damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages happen, but so long as you tend to them right away, no major issues should occur. If you are a capable handyman, you might feel confident enough doing small repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies are certified 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 pieces help protect your roof. If they start to come 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 only superficial.
Replace fascia. Occasionally, the section of your roof that sits 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 difficult to place roofing material. It’s the most common location for leaks on a roof, and it is very easily damaged. If more extensive work is required, replacing the flashing is also a simple task for roofers and proficient homeowners as well.
YOUR ROOF NEEDS LOVE TOO!
The roof is typically the most expensive home maintenance costs. With the typical lifetime of a roof being between 20 and 30 years, you will probably only have to install a new one once or twice. Of course, if you move often, you could end up buying a lot of roofs in your lifetime.
When purchasing a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your time. You can also include the price of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or ask that the seller has the roof replaced before the sale. When selling a home, give Hampton Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Hampton to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.