Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof lasts around 20 years, more or less depending on damage and wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials will last longer, but are also more expensive to install.
The extent and level of care you give your roof can reduce or increase the time between new roof replacements. If you are good about caring for your roof, you could end up only having to replace your roof once in your lifetime, just so long as you give it the maintenance it needs.
Roof replacement is expensive regardless of the type of roof you have. You’re a lot better off in the long run doing maintenance and minor repairs as they arise in order to help extend the lifetime of your roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing skills – or just hate the thought of climbing a ladder – you can always call a licensed, certified roofer in Huntsville to help you with all your maintenance and roof repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing tasks to prevent roof damage before it occurs is by far the most affordable route to extend the lifetime of your roof. Here are a few preventative care recommendations for your roof:
Cut limbs hanging over your roof. Powerful winds and rain can break limbs and even push over trees. Rotting, dying trees will also drop their branches right onto your roof if they are not pruned. Falling limbs ruin all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and metal roofs.
Install gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers installed on top of your gutters to prevent clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning you need to do and help prevent rain flowing into your yard. You can install gutter guards yourself or leave the work to a roofer or gutter cleaning company in Huntsville.
Schedule routine inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after only a few years, and metal roofs can get dented or begin to show signs of age such as rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a pro will let you know if there’s a problem that needs to be resolved.
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 options so you can feel safe about applying these coatings on your home, where they will run off and be in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation systems are in excellent condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation problem. Lack of ventilation will cause trapped moisture. This can quickly lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors throughout your house. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will eat away at wood and other home materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
From time to time, you’ll have to complete some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done in a timely manner, you’ll help prevent leaks and extend the lifetime of your roof, regardless of the materials it’s made of.
Do these projects 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 limit the risk of pests building nests on your roof, and it will immediately renew the appearance of your home. PRO Huntsville Pressure Wash offers roof cleaning in Huntsville as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your gutters regularly, especially while it’s raining, to see if there are clogs that should be cleared. Most gutter experts recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it probably means that your roof is too shaded and stays very moist. Moss’s roots can attach to roof shingles and other types of materials and damage them if it isn’t eliminated fast enough. Typically homeowners decide to have a professional do this so no unnecessary damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages happen, but so long as you tend to them right away, no serious issues should occur. If you are a handyman, you may feel confident enough doing minor roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies in Huntsville are certified to complete 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 removed from the shingles by debris, hail or strong rain. These asphalt chunks help protect your roof. If they start coming off, the roof will 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. Sometimes, the part 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, let alone pests.
Re-caulk around the flashings. Flashings fill in 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 easily damaged. If more extensive work is required, replacing the flashing is also a simple task for professionals 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 around 20 and 30 years, you will probably only need to install a new one one or two times. Of course, if you move frequently, you could end up replacing a lot of roofs in your lifetime.
When purchasing a new house, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can also include the price of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or ask that the home seller has the roof replaced before the sale. When selling a house, give PRO Huntsville Pressure Wash a call for professional roof cleaning in Huntsville to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.