Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The average shingle roof lasts around 20-25 years, more or less depending on damage and usual wear and tear. Other roofing materials will last longer, but are more expensive to install.
The extent and quality of care you give your roof along the way can reduce or extend the time between new roof replacements. If you are lucky, you might end up only having to install a new roof on your home once in your lifetime, just as long as you give it the maintenance it needs.
Roof replacement is very expensive regardless of the type of roof you have. You’re better off doing routine maintenance and minor repairs as they arise in order to lengthen the lifetime of your roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing abilities – or just can’t stand the idea of climbing up a ladder – you can always call a licensed, certified roofer in CITY to help you with all of your maintenance and repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing things to prevent roof damage before it occurs is the most affordable route to increase the lifetime of your roof. Here are a few preventative care recommendations for your roof:
Cut tree branches hanging over your roof.Strong winds and rain can break tree branches and even knock over whole trees. Rotting, dying trees will also drop their heavy branches right onto your roof if they’re not routinely pruned. Falling limbs damage all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and even metal roofs.
Install gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers installed on top of your gutters to prevent clogging. They can reduce the amount of gutter cleaning you have to do and prevent overflow into your yard. You can install gutter guards yourself or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning service in Gilbert.
Have routine inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after only a couple of years, and metal roofs can get dented or start to show signs of aging like rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a roofing company will let you know if there’s an issue that should be taken care of.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings renew 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 products so you can feel safe about putting these products on your home, where they will run off and be in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation system are in good condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation problem. Lack of ventilation will cause trapped moisture. This can quickly result in mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors inside of your home. Besides being a nuisance, mold and mildew will eat away at wood and other materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
From time to time, you’ll have to do some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done in a timely manner, you’ll prevent leaks and increase the lifetime of your roof, regardless of the type.
Do these chores at least once a year to prevent damages and keep your roof looking nice:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof removes debris, mold and dirt. This will reduce the risk of pests and rodents building nests on your roof, and it will instantly freshen up the appearance of your home. Gilbert Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Gilbert as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out rain gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your gutters often, especially if it’s raining, to observe if there are clogs that have to be cleared. Most companies recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring months and again in the fall.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it probably means that your roof is shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots can attach to shingles and other materials and damage them if it isn’t gotten rid of fast enough. Most homeowners decide to have a professional do this so no damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages will happen, but as long as you take care of them quickly, no major problems should occur. If you are a handyman, you might feel confident enough doing minor repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies in Gilbert are able 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 chunks help protect your roof. If they start coming off, the roof will start to look worn, but, more importantly, it won’t protect what’s underneath. Only a small section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is only superficial.
Replace fascia. Occasionally, the part of your roof that sits between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will have to be replaced. The fascia can leak, letting mold and mildew into your home, and sometimes pests.
Re-caulk around the flashings. Flashings fill in the gaps on the roof where it is difficult to place roofing material. It’s the perfect location for leaks on a roof, and it is very easily damaged. If more complicated 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 often 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 replace it one or two times. Of course, if you move frequently, you might end up replacing a lot of roofs during your lifetime.
When purchasing a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your time. You can also include the price of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or ask that the seller has the roof replaced prior to the sale. When trying to sell a home, give Gilbert Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Gilbert to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.