Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The average shingle roof will last 20 years, more or less depending on storm damage and natural wear and tear. Other roofing materials last longer, but are also more expensive to install.
The extent and level of care you give your roof along the way can reduce or extend the time between new roof replacements. If you are lucky, 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 care it needs.
Roof replacement is very expensive no matter the type of roof. You’re better off doing routine maintenance and minor repairs as needed to extend the lifetime of your roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing abilities – or just don’t like the thought of climbing a tall ladder – you can always hire a licensed, certified roofer to give you a hand with all of your maintenance and roof repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing things to prevent most roof damage before it occurs is the cheapest way to lengthen the lifetime of your roof. Here are some preventative care recommendations for your roof:
Cut tree limbs that hang over your roof. Gusting winds and rain storms can break tree limbs and even knock over whole trees. Rotting, dying trees will also drop their branches onto your roof if they’re not regularly pruned. Falling limbs destroy all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and even metal roofs.
Install rain gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers that can be installed on top of your rain gutters to reduce clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning that you need to do and prevent rain flowing into your landscaping. You can install gutter guards yourself or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning service.
Schedule regular inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after a few years, and metal roofs will be dented or begin to show signs of age like rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a roofing pro 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 lifetime. There are regular and plant-based products so you can feel safe about applying these products 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 systems are in excellent condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation problem. Lack of ventilation will lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors throughout 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 do some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done often enough, you’ll prevent leaks and lengthen the lifetime of your roof, regardless of the materials it’s made from.
Do these projects at least once every 12 months to prevent damages and keep your roof looking good:
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 freshen up the curb appeal. Hawthorne Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Hawthorne as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out 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 need to be cleared. Most pros recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring months and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it likely means that your roof is too shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots can attach to roof shingles and other materials and damage them if it isn’t gotten rid of quickly. Many homeowners opt to have a professional service 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 result. If you are a capable handyman, you may feel confident doing minor roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofers are certified 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 heavy rain. These asphalt pieces help to 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 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, 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 most common location for leaks, and it is very easily damaged. If more extensive 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 lifetime of a roof being between 20 and 30 years, you will probably only need to replace it once or twice. Of course, if you move frequently, you could end up buying quite a few roofs during your lifetime.
When purchasing a new home, 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 has the roof replaced before the sale. When selling a home, give Hawthorne Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Hawthorne to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.