Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The typical shingle roof will last 20 years, depending on damage and usual wear and tear. Other roofing materials last longer, but they are also more expensive to install.
The extent and quality of care you give your roof can shorten or lengthen the time between new roof replacements. If you play your cards right, you might end up only having to install a new roof on your home once in your lifetime, as long as you give it the care it requires.
Roof replacement is very expensive no matter the type of roof. You’re much better off in the long run doing routine maintenance and minor repairs as needed in order to extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing skills – or just can’t stand the idea of climbing a tall ladder – you can always hire a licensed, certified roofer in Arlington to help you with all of your maintenance and repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing projects to prevent most roof damage before it happens is the most affordable way to increase the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are a couple of preventative care projects for your home’s roof:
Cut limbs that hang over your roof. High winds and rain can break limbs and even knock over trees. Rotting, dying trees can also drop their branches right onto your roof if they are not routinely pruned. Falling limbs destroy all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and even 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 reduce the amount of gutter cleaning 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 Arlington.
Have regular inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after only 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 pro can let you know if there’s an issue that needs to be repaired.
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 lifespan. 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 possibly 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 issue. Lack of ventilation can lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as odors inside of 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
Every once in a while, you’ll have to do some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done often enough, you’ll prevent leaks and increase the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the type.
Do these projects at least once every 12 months 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 renew the curb appeal. Arlington Power Washing offers roof cleaning in Arlington as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out rain gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your gutters often, especially while it’s raining, to observe if there are clogs that need to be removed. Most companies recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring months and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it probably means that your roof is too shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots will attach to shingles and other materials and damage them if it isn’t removed fast enough. Most homeowners choose 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 take care of them quickly, no serious problems should occur. If you are a handyman, you may feel confident enough doing minor repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies in Arlington are able 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 to protect your home’s roof. If they start coming off, the roof will start to look worn, but, most importantly, it won’t protect what’s underneath. Only a section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is only superficial.
Replace fascia. Sometimes, the part of your home’s roof that sits between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will also 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 gaps on the roof where it is difficult to place roofing material. It’s the perfect location for leaks on a roof, and it is very easily damaged. If more complicated work is required, replacing the flashing is also a simple task 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 lifespan of a roof being around 20 and 30 years, you will likely only need to install a new one once or twice. Of course, if you move frequently, you might end up replacing quite a few roofs in your lifetime.
When purchasing a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can include the price of a new roof – if one is needed – in the closing costs or ask that the home seller have the roof replaced prior to the sale. When trying to sell a home, give Arlington Power Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Arlington to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.