Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof will last 20 years, more or less depending on storm damage and natural wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials will 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 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 care it requires.
Installing a new roof is very expensive regardless of the type of roof you have. You’re much better off in the long run doing maintenance and minor repairs as needed in order to help lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing skills – or just can’t stand the idea of climbing a ladder – you can hire a licensed, certified roofer to give you a hand with all of your maintenance and repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing things to prevent roof damage before it happens is the most affordable way to increase the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are some preventative care tips for your home’s roof:
Cut tree branches hanging over your roof. Strong winds and rain can break tree branches and even knock over whole trees. Decaying, dying trees can also drop their branches onto your roof if they’re not pruned. Falling limbs destroy 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 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 yard. You can install gutter guards yourself or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning service.
Schedule regular inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after only a few years, and metal roofs will be dented or start to show signs of age like rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a company can let you know if there’s an issue that should be repaired.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings replenish the oils from shingles so they don’t dry out, helping 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 come in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation system are in good condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation issue. Lack of ventilation can cause 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 ruin wood and other home materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
From time to time, you’ll need to complete some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done in a timely manner, you’ll help prevent leaks and increase the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the type.
Do these chores at least once a year to prevent damages and keep your home’s roof looking good:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof removes debris, mold and dirt. This will limit the risk of pests and rodents building nests on your home’s roof, and it will instantly renew the appearance of your home. Rocklin Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Rocklin as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your gutters regularly, especially while it’s raining, to observe if there are any clogs that should be cleared. Most pros 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 too shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots can attach to shingles and other types of materials and damage them if it isn’t removed quickly. Typically 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 tend to them right away, no serious issues should occur. If you are a capable handyman, you might feel confident doing minor 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 strong rain storms. These asphalt pieces help to protect your home’s roof. If they start coming off, the roof will begin to look worn, but, more importantly, it won’t protect what’s below. 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 have to be replaced. The fascia can leak, letting mold and mildew into your home, and sometimes pests.
Re-caulk around the flashings. Flashings fill in gaps on the roof where it is hard to place roofing material. It’s the perfect location for leaks on a roof, and it is very easily damaged. If more complicated work is necessary, replacing the flashing is also an easy project 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 lifespan 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 often, you might end up installing 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 price of a new roof – if one is needed – in the closing costs or ask that the home seller has the roof replaced before the sale. When trying to sell a home, give Rocklin Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Rocklin to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.