Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The average shingle roof lasts around 20-25 years, depending on storm damage and wear and tear. Other roofing materials will last longer, but are also more expensive to install.
The extent and quality of care you give your roof can reduce or increase the time between new roof replacements. If you are good about maintaining your roof, you could end up only having to replace your roof once in your lifetime, so long as you give it the care it requires.
Installing a new roof is expensive no matter the type of roof. You’re much better off doing maintenance and small repairs as they arise to help extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing abilities – or just hate the thought of climbing a ladder – you can hire a licensed, certified roofer to help you with all your maintenance and roof repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing projects to prevent most roof damage before it happens is the cheapest route to lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are some preventative care measures for your home’s roof:
Cut tree limbs that hang over your roof. Gusting winds and rain can break tree limbs and even push over trees. Decaying, dying trees will also drop their branches right onto your roof if they’re 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 limit the amount of gutter cleaning you have to do and help 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 regular inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after a couple of years, and metal roofs will be dented or start to show signs of age like rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a pro will let you know if there’s a problem that needs to be repaired.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings replenish the oils from roof 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 putting these products on your home, where they will run off and possibly be in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation system are in prime condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation issue. Limited ventilation will cause trapped moisture. This can quickly cause mold and mildew growth, as well as odors in your home. Besides being a nuisance, mold and mildew will wreak havoc on wood and other home materials, weakening 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 help prevent leaks and lengthen the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the materials it’s made of.
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 limit the risk of pests building nests on your home’s roof, and it will freshen up the appearance of your home. True Toledo Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Toledo as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your gutters regularly, especially if it’s raining, to observe if there are clogs that need to be cleared. Most companies recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it probably means that your roof is too shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots can attach to roof shingles and other materials and ruin them if it isn’t eliminated fast enough. Most homeowners decide to have a professional do this so no unnecessary damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages happen, but so long as you take care of them right away, no major issues should result. If you are a capable handyman, you might feel confident enough doing small roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofers are certified 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 strong rain. These asphalt pieces help 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 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, letting mold and mildew into your home, let alone pests.
Re-caulk around the flashings. Flashings fill in gaps on the roof where it is impossible to place roofing material. It’s the perfect location for leaks, and it is easily damaged. If more extensive work is required, replacing the flashing is also 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 have to replace it once or twice. Of course, if you move frequently, you could end up installing a lot of roofs in your lifetime.
When buying a new home, 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 ask that the home seller has the roof replaced prior to the sale. When trying to sell a home, give True Toledo Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Toledo to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.