Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The average shingle roof will last 20 years, more or less depending on storm damage and usual wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials can last longer, but they are more expensive to install.
The amount and quality of care you give your roof can shorten or increase the time between new roof replacements. If you play your cards right, you could end up only having to replace your roof once in your lifetime, just as long as you give it the maintenance it needs.
Roof replacement is expensive regardless of the type of roof. You’re much better off doing maintenance and small repairs as needed to help extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing abilities – or just can’t stand the thought of climbing up a tall ladder – you can always call a licensed, certified roofer in Concord to help you with all of your maintenance and roof repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing projects to prevent roof damage before it happens is by far the most affordable route to lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are a couple of preventative care recommendations for your home’s roof:
Cut tree limbs hanging over your roof. Strong winds and rain can break tree limbs and even knock over whole trees. Decaying, dying trees can also drop their heavy branches onto your roof if they’re 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 that can be 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 landscaping. You can install gutter guards yourself or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning service in Concord.
Have regular inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after a few years, and metal roofs will be dented or begin to show signs of age such as rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a roofing company can let you know if there’s a problem that should be repaired.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings renew the oils from roof shingles so they don’t dry out, helping your roof last 5 years or more beyond its expected lifespan. There are regular and plant-based options so you can feel safe about putting these coatings on your home, where they will run off and be in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation systems are in excellent condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation issue. Limited ventilation can cause 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 eat away at wood and other home materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
From time to time, you’ll want to do some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done in a timely manner, you’ll help prevent leaks and lengthen the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the materials it’s made from.
Do these chores at least once a year to prevent damages and keep your home’s roof looking nice:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof will remove debris, mold and dirt. This will limit the risk of pests and rodents building nests on your home’s roof, and it will immediately freshen up the curb appeal. Concord Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Concord as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out the gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your gutters regularly, especially while it’s raining, to see if there are any clogs that should be removed. Most companies recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring months and again in the fall.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it means that your roof is shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots will attach to roof shingles and other types of materials and ruin them if it isn’t eliminated fast enough. Most homeowners prefer 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 tend to them right away, no major issues should occur. If you are a capable handyman, you may feel confident doing small roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofers in Concord are certified to complete 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 heavy rain. These asphalt pieces help to protect your home’s roof. If they start to come off, the roof will look worn, but, most importantly, it won’t protect what’s below. Only a section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is superficial.
Replace fascia. Occasionally, the part of your home’s roof that rests between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will need 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 gaps on the roof where it is hard to place roofing material. It’s the most common location for leaks on a roof, and it is easily damaged. If more complicated work is necessary, replacing the flashing is an easy task for professionals and proficient homeowners as well.
YOUR ROOF NEEDS LOVE TOO!
The roof is one of the most expensive home maintenance costs. With the typical lifespan of a roof being between 20 and 30 years, you will probably only need to install a new one once or twice. Of course, if you move several times, you could end up installing quite a few roofs in your lifetime.
When buying a new house, 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 request that the home seller have the roof replaced before the sale. When selling a house, give Concord Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Concord to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.