Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof lasts 20 years, more or less depending on storm damage and natural wear and tear. Other roofing materials can last longer, but are also more expensive to install.
The extent and level of care you give your roof can shorten or increase the time between new roof replacements. If you are lucky, you might end up only having to install a new roof once in your lifetime, as long as you give it the care it requires.
Installing a new roof is expensive no matter the type of roof you have. You’re much better off in the long run doing maintenance and small repairs as they arise in order to extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing abilities – or just hate the idea of climbing a tall ladder – you can call a licensed, certified roofer to help you with all of your maintenance and repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing things to prevent most roof damage before it happens is by far the most affordable route to extend the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are a few preventative care ideas for your home’s roof:
Cut tree limbs that hang over your roof. Strong winds and rain storms can break tree limbs and even push over trees. Rotting, dying trees can also drop their heavy branches right onto your roof if they are not routinely pruned. Falling limbs ruin all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and metal roofs.
Install rain gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers installed over your rain gutters to reduce clogging. They can reduce the amount of gutter cleaning 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 company.
Schedule routine inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after a few years, and metal roofs will be dented or begin to show signs of aging like rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a company can let you know if there’s a problem that should be resolved.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings replenish the oils from shingles so they don’t dry out, helping your roof last 5 years or more beyond its expected lifetime. 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 landscaping.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation system are in excellent condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation problem. Lack of ventilation can result in trapped moisture. This can quickly lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors throughout your home. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will eat away at wood and other home materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Every once in a while, you’ll want to complete some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done regularly, you’ll prevent leaks and extend the lifetime 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 reduce the risk of pests building nests on your home’s roof, and it will instantly renew the appearance of your home. Metairie Pressure Wash Masters offers roof cleaning in Metairie as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out the gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your rain gutters regularly, especially if it’s raining, to see if there are clogs that should be cleared. Most gutter experts recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it means that your roof is too shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots can attach to shingles and other materials and ruin them if it isn’t gotten rid of fast enough. Most homeowners decide to have a professional 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 may feel confident enough doing small repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies are trained to complete 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 chunks 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 section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is superficial.
Replace fascia. Occasionally, the section 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 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 most common location for leaks on a roof, and it is easily damaged. If more complicated work is required, replacing the flashing is also a simple task 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 lifetime of a roof being around 20 and 30 years, you will likely only have to install a new one once or twice. Of course, if you move frequently, you might end up installing quite a few roofs during your lifetime.
When buying a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your time. You can include the cost of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or request that the home seller have the roof replaced before the sale. When trying to sell a home, give Metairie Pressure Wash Masters a call for professional roof cleaning in Metairie to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.