Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The typical shingle roof will last 20-25 years, more or less depending on damage and usual wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials can last longer, but they are more expensive to install.
The amount and level of care you give your roof can shorten or extend the time between roof replacements. If you are lucky, you could end up only having to install a new roof once in your lifetime, just as long as you give it the attention it needs.
Installing a new roof is very expensive no matter the type of roof you have. You’re a lot better off in the long run doing routine maintenance and minor repairs as needed to help extend the lifetime of your roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing abilities – or just don’t like the idea of climbing a ladder – you can always hire a licensed, certified roofer to give you a hand with all your maintenance and roof repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing things to prevent roof damage before it occurs is the most affordable route to lengthen the lifetime of your roof. Here are a couple of preventative care projects for your roof:
Cut branches hanging over your roof. Gusting winds and rain can break branches and even push over whole trees. Decaying, dying trees will also drop their heavy branches onto your roof if they are not routinely pruned. Falling limbs destroy all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and metal roofs.
Install gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers installed over your gutters to prevent clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning you have to do and help prevent overflow into your yard. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning service.
Have routine inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after only a couple of years, and metal roofs will be dented or begin to show signs of aging such as rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a roofing pro will let you know if there’s a problem that has to be handled.
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 lifetime. There are regular and plant-based products so you can feel safe about spraying these coatings on your home, where they will run off and possibly be in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation system are in prime condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation problem. Lack of ventilation will lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly cause mold and mildew growth, as well as odors throughout your house. Besides being a nuisance, mold and mildew will ruin wood and other home materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Here and there, you’ll want to do some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done in a timely manner, you’ll help prevent leaks and lengthen the lifetime 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 and rodents building nests on your roof, and it will immediately renew the curb appeal. Kirkland Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Kirkland as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out rain gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your gutters often, especially if it’s raining, to see if there are any clogs that should be removed. Most companies recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it likely 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 quickly. Many homeowners choose to have a professional service do this so no damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages will happen, but as long as you tend to them right away, no major issues should result. If you are a capable handyman, you might feel confident enough doing minor roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofers are certified to complete these fast fixes for you to keep your roof in optimal condition.
Replace damaged or worn shingles. Shingles have asphalt bits attached to them. The texture can be removed from the shingles by debris, hail or heavy rain storms. These asphalt pieces help to protect your roof. If they start coming off, the roof will begin to look worn, but, more importantly, it won’t protect what’s below. Only a section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is only superficial.
Replace fascia. Occasionally, the section of your 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, let alone 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 perfect location for leaks, and it is very easily damaged. If more extensive work is required, replacing the flashing is an easy 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 between 20 and 30 years, you will likely only have to install a new one once or twice. Of course, if you move often, you could end up installing a lot of roofs in your lifetime.
When buying a new house, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can include the price of a new roof – if one is needed – in the closing costs or ask that the home seller have the roof replaced prior to the sale. When selling a house, give Kirkland Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Kirkland to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.