Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof will last around 20 years, more or less depending on storm damage and natural wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials can last longer, but are more expensive to install.
The amount and level of care you give your roof can reduce or lengthen the time between roof replacements. If you are lucky, you might end up only having to install a new roof on your home once in your lifetime, as long as you give it the attention it requires.
Installing a new roof is expensive no matter the type of roof you have. You’re much better off doing routine maintenance and minor repairs as they arise in order to help extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing abilities – or just hate the idea of climbing 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 happens is the most affordable way to lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are some preventative care recommendations for your home’s roof:
Cut tree limbs hanging over your roof. Strong winds and rain storms can break tree limbs and even knock over trees. Decaying, dying trees will also drop their heavy branches 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 on top of your gutters to prevent clogging. They can reduce 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 company.
Have regular inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after a couple of years, and metal roofs can get dented or start to show signs of aging like rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a roofing company will let you know if there’s a problem that needs to be repaired.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings renew the oils from roof 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 options so you can feel safe about spraying these products on your home, where they will run off and come in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation systems are in good condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation problem. Lack of ventilation will result in trapped moisture. This can quickly cause mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors in your home. Besides being a nuisance, mold and mildew will wreak havoc on wood and other materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Here and there, you’ll have to complete some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done regularly, you’ll help prevent leaks and lengthen the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the type.
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 removes debris, mold and dirt. This will reduce the risk of pests and rodents building nests on your home’s roof, and it will instantly renew the appearance of your home. Warwick Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Warwick 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 see if there are clogs that need to be removed. Most companies recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring 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 attach to roof shingles and other types of materials and damage them if it isn’t removed fast enough. Most homeowners decide to have a professional do this so no damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages will happen, but as long as you tend to them right away, no serious issues should occur. If you are a handyman, you might feel confident doing minor roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofers are more than willing 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 knocked off the shingles by debris, hail or heavy rain. These asphalt chunks help to protect your home’s roof. If they start to come off, the roof will look worn, but, most importantly, it won’t protect what’s below. Only a section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is superficial.
Replace fascia. Sometimes, the part of your home’s roof that rests between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will need 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 most common location for leaks on a roof, and it is easily damaged. If more complicated work is required, replacing the flashing is 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 around 20 and 30 years, you will probably only have to replace it one or two times. Of course, if you move several times, you might end up replacing quite a few roofs in your lifetime.
When buying a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can also include the price of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or request that the seller has the roof replaced before the sale. When trying to sell a home, give Warwick Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Warwick to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.