Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The average shingle roof lasts 20 years, depending on storm damage and wear and tear. Other roofing materials can last longer, but are more expensive to install.
The extent and quality of care you give your roof can shorten or lengthen the time between roof replacements. If you play your cards right, you could end up only having to install a new roof once in your lifetime, just so long as you give it the attention it needs.
Installing a new roof is expensive no matter the type of roof. You’re much better off in the long run doing maintenance and small repairs as they arise to lengthen the lifetime of your roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing skills – or just can’t stand the idea of climbing a ladder – you can find a licensed, certified roofer to help you with all your maintenance and roof repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing projects to prevent roof damage before it happens is by far the most affordable way to lengthen the lifetime of your roof. Here are a few preventative care recommendations for your roof:
Cut limbs that hang over your roof. Powerful winds and rain can break limbs and even push over whole trees. Decaying, dying trees can also drop their heavy branches right onto your roof if they are not regularly pruned. Falling limbs ruin all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and metal roofs.
Install rain gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers installed over your rain gutters to prevent clogging. They can reduce the amount of gutter cleaning you have to do and prevent overflow into your landscaping. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the work to a roofer or gutter cleaning company.
Schedule routine inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after only a couple of 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 roofing company can let you know if there’s a problem that should be taken care of.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings replenish the oils from roof 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 applying 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 excellent condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation issue. Limited ventilation can cause trapped moisture. This can quickly result in mold and mildew growth, as well as odors inside of your home. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will ruin wood and other materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Here and there, you’ll want to complete some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done regularly, you’ll prevent leaks and lengthen the lifetime of your roof, regardless of the materials it’s made from.
Do these things at least once a year to prevent damages and keep your roof looking nice:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof will remove debris, mold and dirt. This will reduce the risk of pests and rodents building nests on your roof, and it will instantly freshen up the curb appeal. Anaheim Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Anaheim as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out rain gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your rain gutters often, especially if it’s raining, to observe if there are clogs that need to be cleared. Most companies recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring months and again in the fall.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it means that your roof is shaded and stays very moist. Moss’s roots will attach to roof shingles and other materials and ruin them if it isn’t eliminated quickly. Many homeowners choose to have a professional service do this so no damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages will happen, but so long as you take care of them quickly, no serious issues should occur. If you are a handyman, you may feel confident enough doing small roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies are able 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. These asphalt pieces help to 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. Sometimes, the part of your roof that sits 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, and sometimes 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 easily damaged. If more extensive work is necessary, replacing the flashing is a simple project for roofers 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 probably only have to replace it once or twice. Of course, if you move often, you could end up buying a lot of roofs in your lifetime.
When buying a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your time. You can also include the cost of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or request that the seller have the roof replaced before the sale. When selling a home, give Anaheim Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Anaheim to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.