Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The typical shingle roof will last around 20 years, depending on damage and natural wear and tear. Other roofing materials can last longer, but they are more expensive to install.
The amount and level of care you give your roof along the way can shorten or extend 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.
Installing a new roof is very expensive regardless of the type of roof you have. You’re better off in the long run doing maintenance and minor repairs as needed to extend the lifetime of your roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing abilities – or just can’t stand the thought of climbing a ladder – you can hire a licensed, certified roofer in Plano to give you a hand with all of your maintenance and roof repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing things to prevent roof damage before it occurs is by far the cheapest route to extend the lifetime of your roof. Here are a few preventative care measures for your roof:
Cut tree limbs hanging over your roof. Strong winds and rain storms can break tree limbs and even push over trees. Rotting, dying trees will also drop their branches onto your roof if they’re not 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 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 on your own or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning service in Plano.
Schedule routine 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 roofing pro will let you know if there’s a problem that has to be handled.
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 lifetime. There are regular and plant-based products so you can feel safe about spraying these products on your home, where they will inevitably run off and come in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation system are in good condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation problem. Limited ventilation will result in trapped moisture. This can quickly lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as odors throughout your house. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will ruin wood and other home materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Here and there, you’ll want to complete some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done regularly, you’ll prevent leaks and extend the lifetime of your roof, regardless of the type.
Do these things at least once every 12 months to prevent damages and keep your roof looking nice:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof removes debris, mold and dirt. This will reduce the risk of pests and rodents building nests on your roof, and it will instantly renew the appearance of your home. Plano Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Plano 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 should be removed. Most pros recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring months and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it likely means that your roof is too shaded and stays very moist. Moss’s roots can attach to roof shingles and other materials and ruin them if it isn’t eliminated fast enough. Typically homeowners decide to have a professional service do this so no damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages happen, but as long as you tend to them right away, no serious issues should occur. If you are a capable handyman, you might feel confident enough doing minor roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies in Plano are certified to tackle 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 knocked off the shingles by debris, hail or strong rain storms. 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 underneath. Only a section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is superficial.
Replace fascia. Occasionally, the section of your roof that sits between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will have to be replaced. The fascia can sometimes 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 impossible to place roofing material. It’s the perfect location for leaks on a roof, and it is very easily damaged. If more extensive 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 one of 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 replace it one or two times. Of course, if you move frequently, you could end up installing 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 cost of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or ask that the home seller have the roof replaced prior to the sale. When selling a house, give Plano Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Plano to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.