Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The average shingle roof will last around 20 years, depending on storm damage and usual wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials can last longer, but are more expensive to install.
The amount and quality of care you give your roof can reduce or extend the time between new roof replacements. If you play your cards right, you might end up only having to replace your roof once in your lifetime, so long as you give it the attention it requires.
Installing a new roof is very expensive regardless of the type of roof. You’re better off in the long run doing maintenance and minor 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 can’t stand the thought of climbing up a ladder – you can always find a licensed, certified roofer to help you with all your maintenance and repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing tasks to prevent most roof damage before it happens is the most affordable way to increase the lifetime of your roof. Here are some preventative care tips for your roof:
Cut branches hanging over your roof. Powerful winds and rain can break branches and even push over whole trees. Decaying, dying trees will also drop their branches onto your roof if they are not pruned. Falling limbs ruin all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and metal roofs.
Install gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers that can be installed over your gutters to prevent clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning that you have to do and help prevent overflow into your yard. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning service.
Have routine inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after a couple of years, and metal roofs can get dented or begin to show signs of age like rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a pro will let you know if there’s a problem that should be resolved.
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 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 possibly be in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation system are in prime condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation problem. Lack of ventilation will cause trapped moisture. This can quickly result in 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, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
From time to time, you’ll want to do some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done often enough, you’ll help prevent leaks and increase the lifetime of your roof, regardless of the type.
Do these chores 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 limit the risk of pests building nests on your roof, and it will instantly freshen up the curb appeal. Peoria Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Peoria as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out the gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your gutters regularly, especially if it’s raining, to observe if there are any clogs that need to be removed. Most pros recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring months and again in the fall.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it probably means that your roof is shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots will attach to shingles and other types of materials and ruin them if it isn’t eliminated quickly. Many homeowners choose to have a professional 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 major problems should occur. If you are a capable handyman, you may feel confident doing minor repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies 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 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 look worn, but, more importantly, it won’t protect what’s below. Only a small section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is superficial.
Replace fascia. Occasionally, the part of your 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 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 difficult to place roofing material. It’s the perfect location for leaks, and it is very easily damaged. If more extensive work is required, replacing the flashing is a simple 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 lifetime of a roof being around 20 and 30 years, you will likely only have to replace it one or two times. Of course, if you move often, you might end up installing quite a few 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 necessary – in the closing costs or request that the home seller have the roof replaced prior to the sale. When trying to sell a home, give Peoria Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Peoria to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.