Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The typical shingle roof lasts 20-25 years, depending on damage and usual wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials last longer, but are more expensive to install.
The amount and level of care you give your roof can shorten or lengthen the time between new roof replacements. If you are good about caring for your roof, you might end up only having to install a new roof once in your lifetime, just as long as you give it the maintenance it requires.
Installing a new roof is very expensive no matter the type of roof you have. You’re a lot better off doing routine maintenance and minor repairs as needed in order to help lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing abilities – or just don’t like the thought of climbing a tall 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 tasks to prevent roof damage before it occurs is by far the most affordable route to lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are a couple of preventative care recommendations for your home’s roof:
Cut tree branches hanging over your roof. Gusting winds and rain can break tree branches and even push over whole trees. Decaying, 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 metal roofs.
Install gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers installed on top of your gutters to reduce clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning you need to do and help prevent rain flowing into your landscaping. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning service.
Have regular inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after only a couple of years, and metal roofs can get dented or begin to show signs of age such as rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a roofing pro will let you know if there’s an issue that should be taken care of.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings renew 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 spraying these coatings on your home, where they will run off and come in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation system are in excellent condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation problem. Limited ventilation will cause trapped moisture. This can quickly result in mold and mildew growth, as well as odors inside of 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
From time to time, you’ll have to complete some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done often enough, you’ll help prevent leaks and lengthen 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 will remove debris, mold and dirt. This will limit the risk of pests and rodents building nests on your home’s roof, and it will instantly renew the curb appeal. Lexington Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Lexington as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out the gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your gutters regularly, especially if it’s raining, to observe if there are any clogs that need to be cleared. Most companies recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring months and again in the fall.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it means that your roof is too shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots will attach to shingles and other types of materials and damage them if it isn’t eliminated 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 as long as you take care of them quickly, no major problems should occur. If you are a capable handyman, you may feel confident enough doing minor 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 bits attached to them. The texture can be removed from the shingles by debris, hail or heavy rain storms. These asphalt chunks help protect your home’s roof. If they start to come 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 only superficial.
Replace fascia. Sometimes, the section of your home’s roof that rests between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will need to be replaced. The fascia can leak, letting mold and mildew into your home, plus pests.
Re-caulk around the flashings. Flashings fill in gaps on the roof where it is difficult to place roofing material. It’s the most common location for leaks on a roof, and it is very easily damaged. If more extensive work is required, replacing the flashing is a simple 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 probably only need to replace it one or two times. Of course, if you move often, you might end up installing a lot of roofs during your lifetime.
When buying a new house, a roof inspection is definitely worth your time. You can also include the price 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 trying to sell a house, give Lexington Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Lexington to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.