Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The typical shingle roof will last 20 years, more or less depending on storm damage and usual wear and tear. Other roofing materials will last longer, but they are more expensive to install.
The amount and level of care you give your roof along the way can shorten or increase the time between new roof replacements. If you are lucky, you could end up only having to replace your roof once in your lifetime, as long as you give it the maintenance it needs.
Installing a new roof is expensive no matter the type of roof you have. You’re a lot better off in the long run doing routine maintenance and minor repairs as they arise in order to extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing skills – or just hate the thought of climbing a ladder – you can find a licensed, certified roofer to give you a hand with all of your maintenance and repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing things to prevent roof damage before it happens is the cheapest route to increase the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are a few preventative care tips for your home’s roof:
Cut branches hanging over your roof. Strong winds and rain storms can break branches and even push over whole trees. Rotting, dying trees can also drop their heavy branches onto your roof if they are not routinely pruned. Falling limbs destroy 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 reduce clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning that you need to do and prevent overflow into your landscaping. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the work to a roofer or gutter cleaning service.
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 such as rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a pro can let you know if there’s a problem that needs to be handled.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings replenish the oils from shingles so they don’t dry out, making 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 come in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation system are in excellent condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation problem. Limited ventilation can result in trapped moisture. This can quickly result in mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors inside of your house. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will ruin wood and other materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Every once in a while, you’ll want 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 type.
Do these chores at least once a year to prevent damages and keep your home’s 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 home’s roof, and it will immediately renew the appearance of your home. RTX Round Rock Pressure Wash offers roof cleaning in Round Rock as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out rain gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your gutters often, especially while it’s raining, to observe if there are any clogs that have to be removed. Most companies recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall.
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 materials and ruin them if it isn’t removed quickly. Typically homeowners prefer to have a professional service do this so no damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages happen, but as long as you tend to them quickly, no serious problems should result. If you are a capable handyman, you may feel confident doing minor repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofers are certified to complete these fast fixes for you to keep your roof in good shape.
Replace damaged or worn shingles. Shingles have asphalt bits attached to them. The texture can be knocked off the shingles by debris, hail or heavy rain. These asphalt chunks help protect your home’s roof. If they start coming off, the roof will begin to look worn, but, more importantly, it won’t protect what’s underneath. Only a section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is superficial.
Replace fascia. Occasionally, the section of your home’s roof that rests between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will have to be replaced. The fascia can sometimes leak, letting mold and mildew into your home, let alone pests.
Re-caulk around the flashings. Flashings fill in the gaps on the roof where it is difficult to place roofing material. It’s the most common location for leaks, and it is easily damaged. If more extensive work is needed, replacing the flashing is an easy project for professionals 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 install a new one one or two times. 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 time. You can include the cost of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or request that the seller has the roof replaced prior to the sale. When selling a house, give RTX Round Rock Pressure Wash a call for professional roof cleaning in Round Rock to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.