Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The typical shingle roof will last 20-25 years, depending on damage and usual wear and tear. Other roofing materials can last longer, but 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 good about maintaining your roof, you could end up only having to replace your roof once in your lifetime, so long as you give it the maintenance it needs.
Installing a new roof is very expensive regardless of the type of roof you have. You’re a lot better off doing maintenance and small repairs as they arise to extend the lifetime of your roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing skills – or just can’t stand the idea of climbing a tall 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 roof damage before it occurs is by far the most affordable route to increase the lifetime of your roof. Here are a couple of preventative care recommendations for your roof:
Cut branches hanging over your roof. High winds and rain can break branches and even knock over trees. Decaying, dying trees will also drop their heavy branches onto your roof if they’re 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 that can be installed over your rain gutters to prevent clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning that you have to do and prevent rain flowing into your yard. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the work to a roofer or gutter cleaning company.
Schedule routine inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after a few years, and metal roofs will be dented or start to show signs of age such as rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a roofing company will let you know if there’s an issue that should 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 lifetime. There are regular and plant-based products so you can feel safe about putting these coatings on your home, where they will run off and possibly be in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation system are in excellent condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation issue. Limited ventilation will result in trapped moisture. This can quickly result in mold and mildew growth, as well as odors throughout your home. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will wreak havoc on wood and other home materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Here and there, you’ll have to complete some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done often enough, you’ll prevent leaks and increase the lifetime of your roof, regardless of the type.
Do these chores at least once every 12 months to prevent damages and keep your 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 roof, and it will renew the curb appeal. TruClean Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Pasadena as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out the gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your rain gutters often, especially if it’s raining, to observe if there are any clogs that have to be cleared. Most pros recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring months and again in the fall.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it likely means that your roof is shaded and stays very moist. Moss’s roots can attach to shingles and other materials and damage them if it isn’t gotten rid of fast enough. Most homeowners prefer to have a professional do this so no unnecessary damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages 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 small repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies are trained to complete these fast fixes for you to keep your roof in good shape.
Replace damaged or worn shingles. Shingles have asphalt pieces attached to them. The texture can be knocked off the shingles by debris, hail or strong rain. These asphalt chunks help protect your roof. If they start to come off, the roof will look worn, but, most importantly, it won’t protect what’s underneath. Only a section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is superficial.
Replace fascia. Sometimes, the section of your 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 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 impossible to place roofing material. It’s the perfect location for leaks, and it is very easily damaged. If more complicated work is necessary, replacing the flashing is also 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 once or twice. Of course, if you move often, you could end up buying quite a few roofs in your lifetime.
When purchasing 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 has the roof replaced before the sale. When trying to sell a home, give TruClean Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Pasadena to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.