Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The average shingle roof will last 20-25 years, more or less depending on storm damage and usual wear and tear. Other roofing materials will last longer, but are more expensive to install.
The amount and level of care you give your roof can shorten or lengthen 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 attention it needs.
Roof replacement is very expensive no matter the type of roof. You’re much better off in the long run doing maintenance and minor repairs as they arise in order to extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing abilities – or just don’t like the idea of climbing a tall ladder – you can find a licensed, certified roofer in Gastonia to help you with all your maintenance and roof repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing things to prevent most roof damage before it happens is the most affordable way to increase the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are some preventative care recommendations for your home’s roof:
Cut branches hanging over your roof. Powerful winds and rain can break branches and even push over whole trees. Rotting, dying trees can also drop their branches right onto your roof if they’re not regularly pruned. Falling limbs destroy all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and even metal roofs.
Install rain gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers installed on top of your rain gutters to prevent clogging. They can reduce the amount of gutter cleaning that you need to do and prevent overflow into your landscaping. You can install gutter guards yourself or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning service in Gastonia.
Have regular inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after only a few years, and metal roofs will be dented or start to show signs of aging such as rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a roofing company can let you know if there’s an issue 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 options so you can feel safe about spraying 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 system are in prime condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation problem. Limited ventilation can result in trapped moisture. This can quickly lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as odors inside of your house. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will eat away at wood and other home materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
From time to time, you’ll need to do some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done in a timely manner, you’ll prevent leaks and increase the lifetime of your roof, regardless of the materials it’s made of.
Do these things 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 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. Gastonia Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Gastonia as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out the gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your rain gutters often, especially while it’s raining, to see if there are any clogs that should be cleared. Most gutter experts recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it likely means that your roof is too shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots attach to roof shingles and other materials and ruin them if it isn’t gotten rid of fast enough. Many homeowners decide to have a professional do this so no damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages happen, but as long as you take care of them quickly, no serious issues should result. If you are a handyman, you might feel confident doing minor roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies in Gastonia are certified to complete 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 storms. These asphalt chunks help protect your home’s roof. If they start to come off, the roof will start to look worn, but, most 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 section of your home’s 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 sometimes 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 impossible to place roofing material. It’s the most common location for leaks, and it is very easily damaged. If more complicated work is necessary, replacing the flashing is an easy project for roofers 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 between 20 and 30 years, you will likely only need to install a new one once or twice. Of course, if you move several times, you could end up replacing quite a few roofs in your lifetime.
When purchasing a new house, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can include the price of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or ask that the home seller have the roof replaced before the sale. When trying to sell a house, give Gastonia Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Gastonia to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.