Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof lasts 20 years, depending on storm damage and wear and tear. Other roofing materials will last longer, but are more expensive to install.
The extent and level of care you give your roof can reduce or extend the time between roof replacements. If you are lucky, you might end up only having to install a new roof on your home once in your lifetime, just so long as you give it the attention it requires.
Installing a new roof is very expensive no matter the type of roof you have. You’re better off doing routine maintenance and small repairs as needed in order to extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing abilities – or just hate the idea of climbing a ladder – you can hire a licensed, certified roofer to give you a hand with all your maintenance and roof repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing projects to prevent most roof damage before it occurs is the cheapest route to increase the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are some preventative care tips for your home’s roof:
Cut tree branches hanging over your roof. High winds and rain can break tree branches and even knock over trees. Decaying, dying trees will also drop their heavy branches onto your roof if they are not regularly pruned. Falling limbs destroy all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and even metal roofs.
Install gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers installed over your gutters to reduce clogging. They can reduce the amount of gutter cleaning that you have to do and 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 routine inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after only a couple of years, and metal roofs can get dented or start to show signs of aging such as rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a roofing pro will let you know if there’s an issue that has to be handled.
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 spraying these products on your home, where they will inevitably run off and possibly come in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation system are in good condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation problem. Limited ventilation will result in 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 materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
From time to time, you’ll want to complete some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done often enough, 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 nice:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof will remove debris, mold and dirt. This will reduce the risk of pests building nests on your home’s roof, and it will instantly renew the appearance of your home. Redmond Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Redmond as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your gutters regularly, especially while it’s raining, to see if there are any clogs that have to be cleared. 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 too shaded and stays very moist. Moss’s roots attach to roof shingles and other materials and ruin them if it isn’t removed fast enough. Most homeowners choose to have a professional 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 major problems should occur. If you are a capable handyman, you may feel confident enough doing small roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies are certified to tackle 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 storms. These asphalt pieces help to protect your home’s roof. If they start coming off, the roof will 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 only superficial.
Replace fascia. Occasionally, the part 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 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 impossible to place roofing material. It’s the perfect location for leaks on a roof, and it is very easily damaged. If more complicated work is necessary, replacing the flashing is 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 probably only have to replace it one or two times. Of course, if you move frequently, you might end up replacing a lot of roofs during your lifetime.
When buying a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your time. You can include the price of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or ask that the seller has the roof replaced prior to the sale. When selling a home, give Redmond Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Redmond to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.