Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The average shingle roof lasts around 20 years, more or less depending on storm damage and natural wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials will last longer, but are more expensive to install.
The amount and level of care you give your roof along the way can reduce or extend the time between roof replacements. If you are lucky, you might end up only having to replace your roof on your home once in your lifetime, as long as you give it the attention it requires.
Roof replacement is expensive regardless of the type of roof you have. You’re much better off in the long run doing routine maintenance and small repairs as they arise to help lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing abilities – or just can’t stand the idea of climbing up a tall 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 lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are some preventative care tips for your home’s roof:
Cut tree limbs hanging over your roof. Strong winds and rain storms can break tree limbs and even push over whole trees. Decaying, dying trees will also drop their heavy branches right onto your roof if they’re not routinely 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 that can be installed on top of your gutters to prevent clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning you need to do and help prevent rain flowing into your yard. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning company.
Have routine inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after a few 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 company will let you know if there’s a problem that needs to be resolved.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings renew 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 products so you can feel safe about applying these coatings on your home, where they will run off and come in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation system are in excellent condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation issue. Limited ventilation will lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as odors in your house. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will wreak havoc on wood and other materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Here and there, 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 removes 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 appearance of your home. Vista Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Vista as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out the gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your gutters regularly, especially if it’s raining, to see if there are clogs that should be cleared. Most pros recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall season.
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 types of materials and damage them if it isn’t gotten rid of fast enough. Typically homeowners choose to have a professional service do this so no unnecessary damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages will happen, but as long as you tend to them quickly, no serious problems should occur. If you are a capable handyman, you might 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 optimal condition.
Replace damaged or worn shingles. Shingles have asphalt pieces attached to them. The texture can be removed from the shingles by debris, hail or heavy rain. These asphalt chunks help to protect your home’s roof. If they start coming off, the roof will start to look worn, but, most importantly, it won’t protect what’s underneath. Only a small section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is 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 have to be replaced. The fascia can sometimes leak, allowing mold and mildew into your home, and sometimes pests.
Re-caulk around the flashings. Flashings fill in gaps on the roof where it is hard to place roofing material. It’s the perfect location for leaks on a roof, and it is easily damaged. If more extensive work is required, replacing the flashing is a simple project for roofers 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 around 20 and 30 years, you will likely only need to replace it once or twice. Of course, if you move frequently, you might end up replacing quite a few roofs during your lifetime.
When purchasing a new house, a roof inspection is definitely worth your time. You can also include the cost of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or request that the seller has the roof replaced before the sale. When trying to sell a house, give Vista Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Vista to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.