Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The average shingle roof lasts around 20 years, depending on storm damage and wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials will last longer, but are also more expensive to install.
The amount and level of care you give your roof along the way can reduce or extend the time between new roof replacements. If you play your cards right, 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.
Installing a new roof is very expensive no matter the type of roof. You’re a lot better off doing maintenance and small repairs as needed to lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing abilities – or just hate the thought of climbing up a tall ladder – you can always call a licensed, certified roofer to give you a hand with all your maintenance and repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing things to prevent roof damage before it happens is the cheapest route to extend the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are a couple of preventative care measures for your home’s roof:
Cut tree branches hanging over your roof. High winds and rain storms can break tree branches and even knock over whole trees. Rotting, dying trees will also drop their branches right onto your roof if they’re not pruned. Falling limbs damage all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and even 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 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.
Have routine inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after a couple of years, and metal roofs will be dented or start to show signs of aging such as rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a roofing company will let you know if there’s an issue that needs to be handled.
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 products so you can feel safe about spraying these coatings on your home, where they will run off and possibly be in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation systems are in excellent condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation issue. Lack of ventilation will lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors in your house. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will eat away at wood and other home materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Here and there, you’ll need to do some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done regularly, you’ll prevent leaks and extend the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the type.
Do these chores at least once a year 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. San Antonio Pressure WashCo offers roof cleaning in San Antonio as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out rain gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your gutters regularly, especially if it’s raining, to see if there are clogs that should be cleared. Most companies recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring months and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it means that your roof is too shaded and stays very moist. Moss’s roots will attach to shingles and other types of materials and ruin them if it isn’t gotten rid of fast enough. Most homeowners opt to have a professional service do this so no unnecessary damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages will happen, but so long as you tend to them right away, no serious issues should occur. If you are a handyman, you might feel confident enough doing small 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 strong rain. These asphalt chunks help 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 underneath. 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 also have to be replaced. The fascia can sometimes 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 difficult to place roofing material. It’s the perfect location for leaks on a roof, and it is very easily damaged. If more extensive work is necessary, replacing the flashing is also an easy task for roofers and proficient homeowners as well.
YOUR ROOF NEEDS LOVE TOO!
The roof is often the most expensive home maintenance costs. With the typical lifespan of a roof being between 20 and 30 years, you will likely only need to replace it one or two times. Of course, if you move several times, you could end up buying quite a few roofs during your lifetime.
When buying a new house, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can include the cost 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 house, give San Antonio Pressure WashCo a call for professional roof cleaning in San Antonio to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.