Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof lasts 20-25 years, more or less depending on damage and natural wear and tear. Other roofing materials will last longer, but they are also more expensive to install.
The extent and level of care you give your roof along the way can shorten or extend 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, as long as you give it the attention it requires.
Installing a new roof is very expensive no matter the type of roof you have. You’re a lot better off in the long run doing maintenance and small repairs as they arise to lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing skills – or just hate the idea of climbing up a tall ladder – you can find a licensed, certified roofer to help you with all of your maintenance and repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing tasks to prevent roof damage before it happens is the cheapest way to lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are some preventative care ideas for your home’s roof:
Cut branches hanging over your roof. Strong winds and rain can break branches and even push over trees. Decaying, dying trees can also drop their heavy branches onto your roof if they’re not routinely pruned. Falling limbs damage all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and metal roofs.
Install rain gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers that can be installed on top of your rain gutters to prevent clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning that you have to do and prevent overflow into your landscaping. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning company.
Have routine inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after only 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 roofing pro can let you know if there’s a problem that has to be repaired.
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 products so you can feel safe about spraying these products on your home, where they will inevitably run off and possibly come in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation system are in good condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation issue. Limited ventilation can lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly cause mold and mildew growth, as well as odors in your home. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will ruin wood and other home materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
From time to time, you’ll have to do some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done in a timely manner, you’ll prevent leaks and lengthen the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the materials it’s made from.
Do these chores 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 building nests on your home’s roof, and it will immediately freshen up the appearance of your home. Chattanooga Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Chattanooga as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out rain gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your rain gutters often, especially while it’s raining, to see if there are clogs that should be cleared. Most companies recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it probably means that your roof is too shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots attach to shingles and other materials and damage them if it isn’t eliminated fast enough. Typically homeowners prefer 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 tend to them quickly, no serious issues should result. If you are a capable handyman, you might feel confident doing small repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies are able to complete 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 knocked off the shingles by debris, hail or heavy rain. These asphalt pieces help protect your home’s roof. If they start to come off, the roof will begin to look worn, but, most importantly, it won’t protect what’s underneath. Only a 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 need to be replaced. The fascia can 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 most common location for leaks, and it is very easily damaged. If more extensive work is required, replacing the flashing is also an easy project for professionals and proficient homeowners as well.
YOUR ROOF NEEDS LOVE TOO!
The roof is typically the most expensive home maintenance costs. With the typical lifespan of a roof being around 20 and 30 years, you will probably only have to replace it one or two times. Of course, if you move often, you could end up buying a lot of roofs during your lifetime.
When buying a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can include the cost of a new roof – if one is needed – in the closing costs or request that the home seller has the roof replaced before the sale. When selling a home, give Chattanooga Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Chattanooga to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.