Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The average shingle roof lasts 20 years, depending on storm damage and usual wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials last longer, but are also more expensive to install.
The extent and level of care you give your roof can shorten or lengthen the time between roof replacements. If you are lucky, you might end up only having to replace your roof on your home once in your lifetime, just so long as you give it the maintenance it requires.
Installing a new roof is very expensive regardless of the type of roof. You’re much better off doing routine maintenance and minor repairs as they arise to help extend the lifetime of your roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing skills – or just hate the idea of climbing up a ladder – you can call a licensed, certified roofer to help you with all of your maintenance and repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing things to prevent roof damage before it occurs is the most affordable route to increase the lifetime of your roof. Here are a couple of preventative care tips for your roof:
Cut tree limbs that hang over your roof. Powerful winds and rain storms 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 regularly pruned. Falling limbs ruin all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and even metal roofs.
Install rain gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers that can be installed on top of your rain gutters to prevent clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning you have to do and help prevent rain flowing into your landscaping. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning service.
Have regular inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after a few years, and metal roofs will be dented or start to show signs of aging such as rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a pro can let you know if there’s an issue that has to be handled.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings replenish the oils from shingles so they don’t dry out, making your roof last 5 years or more beyond its expected lifespan. There are regular and plant-based products so you can feel safe about spraying these coatings on your home, where they will inevitably 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 lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly cause mold and mildew growth, as well as odors inside of your home. Besides being a nuisance, mold and mildew will wreak havoc on wood and other materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Every once in a while, you’ll have to complete some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done often enough, you’ll help prevent leaks and increase the lifespan 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 good:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof removes debris, mold and dirt. This will limit the risk of pests and rodents building nests on your roof, and it will renew the curb appeal. Minneapolis Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Minneapolis as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out the gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your rain gutters often, especially if it’s raining, to see if there are clogs that need to be cleared. Most gutter experts 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 can attach to shingles and other types of materials and ruin them if it isn’t gotten rid of fast enough. Many homeowners decide to have a professional service do this so no unnecessary damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages will happen, but so long as you take care of them right away, no serious problems should occur. If you are a capable handyman, you might feel confident enough doing minor repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies are able 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 heavy rain. These asphalt pieces help to protect your roof. If they start coming off, the roof will start to look worn, but, more importantly, it won’t protect what’s below. Only a small section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is superficial.
Replace fascia. Occasionally, the part of your roof that rests between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will also have to be replaced. The fascia can sometimes leak, allowing mold and mildew into your home, let alone 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 also an easy 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 lifespan of a roof being around 20 and 30 years, you will probably only have to replace it one or two times. Of course, if you move several times, you might end up buying a lot of roofs during your lifetime.
When buying a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your time. You can include the cost of a new roof – if one is needed – in the closing costs or ask that the seller has the roof replaced prior to the sale. When selling a home, give Minneapolis Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Minneapolis to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.