Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The average shingle roof will last around 20 years, depending on damage and usual wear and tear. Other roofing materials can last longer, but are more expensive to install.
The amount and level of care you give your roof can reduce or lengthen the time between roof replacements. If you play your cards right, you might end up only having to replace your roof 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’re better off in the long run doing maintenance and small repairs as they arise to extend the lifetime of your roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing skills – or just can’t stand the thought of climbing a ladder – you can always find a licensed, certified roofer to give you a hand with all your maintenance and roof repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing projects to prevent roof damage before it happens is the most affordable way to lengthen the lifetime of your roof. Here are some preventative care tips for your roof:
Cut tree branches hanging over your roof. High winds and rain storms can break tree branches and even knock over trees. Rotting, dying trees will also drop their branches right onto your roof if they’re 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 on top of your gutters to reduce clogging. They can limit 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 regular inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after a couple of years, and metal roofs can get dented or begin to show signs of aging such as rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a pro will let you know if there’s an issue that needs to be taken care of.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings replenish the oils from roof 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 options so you can feel safe about putting these products on your home, where they will inevitably run off and possibly come in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation systems are in excellent condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation issue. Lack of ventilation will result in trapped moisture. This can quickly result in mold and mildew growth, as well as odors in your house. Besides being a nuisance, mold and mildew will wreak havoc on wood and other materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Every once in a while, you’ll need to complete some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done in a timely manner, you’ll prevent leaks and lengthen the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the materials it’s made of.
Do these chores 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 instantly renew the curb appeal. Richmond Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Richmond as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your gutters regularly, especially while it’s raining, to see if there are clogs that need to be removed. 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 relatively moist. Moss’s roots attach to roof shingles and other materials and ruin them if it isn’t removed quickly. Most homeowners decide 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 serious problems should result. If you are a capable handyman, you might feel confident enough doing small roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies 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 pieces attached to them. The texture can be knocked off the shingles by debris, hail or heavy rain storms. These asphalt pieces help protect your roof. If they start coming off, the roof will begin to look worn, but, most importantly, it won’t protect what’s below. Only a small section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is superficial.
Replace fascia. Occasionally, the section of your roof that sits between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will need 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 hard to place roofing material. It’s the most common location for leaks on a roof, and it is easily damaged. If more complicated work is needed, replacing the flashing is an easy task 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 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 might end up replacing a lot of roofs during your lifetime.
When purchasing a new house, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can include the price of a new roof – if one is needed – in the closing costs or request that the seller have the roof replaced before the sale. When selling a house, give Richmond Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Richmond to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.