Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The average shingle roof will last 20 years, depending on storm damage and wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials last longer, but they are also more expensive to install.
The amount and quality of care you give your roof can reduce or lengthen the time between new roof replacements. If you are good about caring for your roof, you could end up only having to install a new roof on your home once in your lifetime, so long as you give it the attention it needs.
Roof replacement is expensive no matter the type of roof you have. You’re better off doing routine maintenance and minor repairs as needed to lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing abilities – or just don’t like the idea of climbing up 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 most roof damage before it happens is the cheapest way to increase the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are some preventative care measures for your home’s roof:
Cut limbs hanging over your roof. High winds and rain storms can break limbs and even push over trees. Rotting, dying trees can also drop their heavy branches right onto your roof if they’re not routinely pruned. Falling limbs damage 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 need to do and prevent overflow into your yard. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning company.
Have routine inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after a couple of years, and metal roofs can get dented or start to show signs of age like rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a roofing company can let you know if there’s a problem 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 options so you can feel safe about applying these products on your home, where they will run off and be in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation systems are in excellent condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation issue. Limited ventilation can lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as odors throughout your house. 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 do some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done in a timely manner, you’ll prevent leaks and increase the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the materials it’s made from.
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 limit the risk of pests building nests on your home’s roof, and it will freshen up the appearance of your home. Grapevine Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Grapevine as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out the gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your rain gutters regularly, especially while it’s raining, to observe if there are clogs that should be removed. Most gutter experts recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it probably 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 gotten rid of fast enough. Typically homeowners choose to have a professional do this so no damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages happen, but so long as you tend to them quickly, no serious problems should occur. If you are a capable handyman, you might feel confident enough doing minor repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofers are certified to tackle 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 heavy rain. These asphalt pieces help to protect your home’s roof. If they start coming off, the roof will look worn, but, more importantly, it won’t protect what’s below. Only a section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is superficial.
Replace fascia. Occasionally, the part of your home’s roof that sits between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will also need to be replaced. The fascia can 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 perfect location for leaks, and it is easily damaged. If more complicated work is necessary, replacing the flashing is also a simple task for professionals and proficient homeowners as well.
YOUR ROOF NEEDS LOVE TOO!
The roof is one of the most expensive home maintenance costs. With the typical lifespan of a roof being around 20 and 30 years, you will probably only need to install a new one once or twice. Of course, if you move frequently, you could end up installing a lot of roofs in your lifetime.
When purchasing a new house, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can include the cost of a new roof – if one is needed – in the closing costs or request that the home seller have the roof replaced prior to the sale. When selling a house, give Grapevine Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Grapevine to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.