Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The typical shingle roof will last 20 years, more or less depending on damage and wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials last longer, but are more expensive to install.
The extent and quality of care you give your roof along the way can shorten or increase the time between new roof replacements. If you are good about maintaining your roof, 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 attention it needs.
Roof replacement is very expensive regardless of the type of roof you have. You’re a lot better off doing maintenance and small repairs as they arise in order to extend the lifetime of your roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing skills – or just hate the idea of climbing up a tall ladder – you can find a licensed, certified roofer in Roseville to help you with all of your maintenance and roof repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing projects to prevent most roof damage before it happens is by far the most affordable way to lengthen the lifetime of your roof. Here are a couple of preventative care tips for your roof:
Cut branches hanging over your roof. High winds and rain can break branches and even push over whole trees. Decaying, dying trees will also drop their branches onto your roof if they’re not 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 over your rain gutters to prevent clogging. They can reduce the amount of gutter cleaning that you need to do and prevent overflow into your yard. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the work to a roofer or gutter cleaning service in Roseville.
Have regular inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after a few years, and metal roofs will be dented or start to show signs of aging like rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a pro will let you know if there’s a problem that needs to be taken care of.
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 products on your home, where they will run off and possibly come in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation systems are in good condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation problem. Limited ventilation will cause trapped moisture. This can quickly cause mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors inside of your home. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will ruin wood and other home materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
From time to time, you’ll want to do some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done regularly, you’ll prevent leaks and lengthen the lifetime of your roof, regardless of the type.
Do these projects at least once a year to prevent damages and keep your roof looking good:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof will remove debris, mold and dirt. This will reduce the risk of pests building nests on your roof, and it will instantly freshen up the curb appeal. Roseville Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Roseville 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 any clogs that have to be cleared. Most companies recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, 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 ruin them if it isn’t gotten rid of fast enough. Typically homeowners choose to have a professional service do this so no damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages happen, but as long as you tend to them quickly, no major issues should occur. If you are a capable handyman, you may feel confident doing small roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies in Roseville are more than willing to tackle these fast fixes for you to keep your roof in good shape.
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 roof. If they start coming off, the roof will begin to look worn, but, more importantly, it won’t protect what’s underneath. Only a section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is 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 sometimes 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 hard to place roofing material. It’s the perfect location for leaks, and it is very easily damaged. If more extensive work is needed, 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 around 20 and 30 years, you will likely only need to install a new one one or two times. Of course, if you move frequently, you might end up buying quite a few roofs in your lifetime.
When buying a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can also include the cost of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or ask that the home seller have the roof replaced prior to the sale. When trying to sell a home, give Roseville Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Roseville to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.