Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof lasts around 20-25 years, depending on storm damage and wear and tear. Other roofing materials will last longer, but they are also more expensive to install.
The extent and quality of care you give your roof along the way can reduce or lengthen the time between new roof replacements. If you are good about maintaining your roof, you could end up only having to replace your roof on your home once in your lifetime, so long as you give it the attention it requires.
Installing a new roof is very expensive regardless of the type of roof. You’re better off in the long run doing maintenance and minor repairs as needed in order to extend the lifetime of your roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing skills – or just can’t stand the idea of climbing up a tall ladder – you can always hire a licensed, certified roofer to give you a hand with all your maintenance and repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing tasks to prevent roof damage before it occurs is by far the most affordable way to lengthen the lifetime of your roof. Here are some preventative care recommendations for your roof:
Cut tree branches that hang over your roof. Strong winds and rain storms can break tree branches and even push over trees. Rotting, dying trees will also drop their branches onto your roof if they are not routinely pruned. Falling limbs damage all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and metal roofs.
Install rain gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers installed on top of your rain gutters to reduce clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning you need to do and prevent overflow into your landscaping. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the work to a roofer or gutter cleaning company.
Schedule regular inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after only a few years, and metal roofs will be 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 handled.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings renew the oils from 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 products so you can feel safe about applying these coatings on your home, where they will inevitably run off and come in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation systems are in excellent condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation problem. Limited ventilation will result in trapped moisture. This can quickly result in mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors inside of your house. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will ruin wood and other home materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
From time to time, you’ll need to complete some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done regularly, you’ll prevent leaks and lengthen the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the materials it’s made of.
Do these projects at least once every 12 months to prevent damages and keep your roof looking nice:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof removes debris, mold and dirt. This will limit the risk of pests building nests on your roof, and it will immediately renew the appearance of your home. OKC Pressure Wash Co. offers roof cleaning in Oklahoma City 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 need to be removed. Most pros recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it likely means that your roof is too shaded and stays very moist. Moss’s roots will attach to shingles and other materials and ruin them if it isn’t eliminated quickly. Many homeowners decide to have a professional service do this so no damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages will happen, but so long as you take care of them right away, no major issues should occur. If you are a capable handyman, you may feel confident enough doing minor 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 chunks help protect your roof. If they start to come off, the roof will begin to look worn, but, more 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. Sometimes, the section of your roof that rests between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will also 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 the gaps on the roof where it is hard to place roofing material. It’s the most common location for leaks, and it is very easily damaged. If more complicated work is needed, 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 probably only need to replace it once or twice. Of course, if you move several times, you could end up replacing a lot of roofs during your lifetime.
When buying a new house, a roof inspection is definitely worth your time. You can include the cost of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or ask that the home seller have the roof replaced before the sale. When selling a house, give OKC Pressure Wash Co. a call for professional roof cleaning in Oklahoma City to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.