Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The average shingle roof lasts 20-25 years, more or less depending on damage and usual wear and tear. Other roofing materials can last longer, but are also more expensive to install.
The amount and level of care you give your roof can reduce or extend the time between new roof replacements. If you play your cards right, you might end up only having to replace your roof once in your lifetime, just as long as you give it the maintenance it needs.
Installing a new roof is very expensive regardless of the type of roof you have. You’re better off in the long run doing maintenance and minor repairs as needed in order to help lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing abilities – or just can’t stand the idea of climbing a tall ladder – you can find a licensed, certified roofer in Troy to help you with all your maintenance and roof repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing things to prevent most roof damage before it happens is the cheapest way to lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are some preventative care recommendations for your home’s roof:
Cut branches hanging over your roof. Gusting winds and rain can break branches and even push over whole trees. Rotting, 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 even metal roofs.
Install gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers that can be installed over your gutters to reduce clogging. They can reduce the amount of gutter cleaning you need 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 company in Troy.
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 company will let you know if there’s an issue that has to be taken care of.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings replenish the oils from roof shingles so they don’t dry out, making 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 coatings 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 systems are in prime 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 in your home. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will wreak havoc on wood and other home materials, weakening 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 in a timely manner, you’ll help prevent leaks and lengthen the lifetime of your roof, regardless of the type.
Do these chores at least once every 12 months to prevent damages and keep your home’s roof looking nice:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof will remove debris, mold and dirt. This will reduce the risk of pests and rodents building nests on your home’s roof, and it will immediately freshen up the appearance of your home. Troy Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Troy 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 clogs that need to be cleared. Most companies recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it probably means that your roof is too shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots can attach to roof shingles and other materials and damage them if it isn’t removed fast enough. 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 quickly, no serious issues should occur. If you are a handyman, you might feel confident doing minor roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofers in Troy 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 bits attached to them. The texture can be removed from the shingles by debris, hail or strong rain. These asphalt pieces help protect your home’s roof. If they start coming off, the roof will begin to look worn, but, most importantly, it won’t protect what’s underneath. Only a section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is only superficial.
Replace fascia. Sometimes, the part of your home’s roof that sits between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will also have to be replaced. The fascia can 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 impossible to place roofing material. It’s the perfect location for leaks, and it is very easily damaged. If more complicated work is necessary, replacing the flashing is also a simple task for roofers and proficient homeowners as well.
YOUR ROOF NEEDS LOVE TOO!
The roof is one of the most expensive home maintenance costs. With the typical lifetime of a roof being between 20 and 30 years, you will likely only need to replace it one or two times. Of course, if you move frequently, you might end up buying a lot of roofs in your lifetime.
When purchasing a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can also include the cost of a new roof – if one is needed – in the closing costs or ask that the home seller have the roof replaced before the sale. When selling a home, give Troy Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Troy to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.