Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The average shingle roof will last 20 years, depending on storm damage and natural wear and tear. Other roofing materials last longer, but are more expensive to install.
The extent and level of care you give your roof along the way can shorten or extend the time between 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 care it requires.
Installing a new roof is expensive no matter the type of roof you have. You’re much better off 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 don’t like the thought of climbing a tall ladder – you can always find a licensed, certified roofer in Elizabeth to give you a hand with all your maintenance and repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing tasks to prevent roof damage before it happens is by far the cheapest way to lengthen the lifetime of your roof. Here are a few preventative care measures for your roof:
Cut tree branches that hang over your roof. Gusting winds and rain storms 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 are not pruned. Falling limbs destroy 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 have 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 service in Elizabeth.
Have routine inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after a couple of years, and metal roofs will be dented or start to show signs of aging like rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a roofing pro will let you know if there’s an issue that has to be resolved.
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 options so you can feel safe about applying these coatings on your home, where they will inevitably run off and come in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation systems are in excellent condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation issue. Lack of ventilation will lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly result in mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors throughout your home. 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 need to do some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done in a timely manner, you’ll help prevent leaks and lengthen the lifetime 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 roof looking good:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof will remove debris, mold and dirt. This will limit the risk of pests building nests on your roof, and it will renew the appearance of your home. Elizabeth Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Elizabeth as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your gutters regularly, especially if it’s raining, to see if there are any clogs that have to be cleared. Most gutter experts recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall season.
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 shingles and other materials and ruin them if it isn’t gotten rid of quickly. Most homeowners prefer 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 problems should result. If you are a handyman, you might feel confident doing minor repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies in Elizabeth are certified to tackle 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 knocked off the shingles by debris, hail or strong rain storms. These asphalt pieces help protect your roof. If they start to come 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 superficial.
Replace fascia. Sometimes, the section of your roof that sits 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, let alone 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 most common location for leaks, and it is easily damaged. If more complicated work is needed, replacing the flashing is an easy project 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 likely only have to replace it one or two times. Of course, if you move often, you could end up installing 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 cost of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or ask that the home seller has the roof replaced before the sale. When trying to sell a home, give Elizabeth Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Elizabeth to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.