Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof lasts around 20 years, depending on storm damage and usual wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials can last longer, but are also more expensive to install.
The amount and quality of care you give your roof can reduce or lengthen the time between new roof replacements. If you are lucky, you might end up only having to replace your roof on your home once in your lifetime, so long as you give it the attention it requires.
Roof replacement is very expensive no matter the type of roof. You’re a lot better off doing maintenance and minor repairs as needed to extend the lifetime of your roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing abilities – or just can’t stand the idea of climbing up a tall ladder – you can always call a licensed, certified roofer in Centennial to give you a hand with all of your maintenance and repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing tasks to prevent most roof damage before it occurs is the cheapest route to extend the lifetime of your roof. Here are a few preventative care projects for your roof:
Cut limbs that hang over your roof. High winds and rain storms can break limbs and even knock over trees. Rotting, dying trees can also drop their heavy branches onto your roof if they are not routinely pruned. Falling limbs damage all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and metal roofs.
Install rain gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers installed over your rain gutters to reduce clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning you have to do and prevent rain flowing into your landscaping. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the work to a roofer or gutter cleaning company in Centennial.
Schedule regular inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after a couple of years, and metal roofs can get dented or begin 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 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 products on your home, where they will inevitably run off and possibly be in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation systems are in good condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation problem. Limited ventilation can result in trapped moisture. This can quickly cause mold and mildew growth, as well as odors throughout your home. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will wreak havoc on wood and other materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Here and there, you’ll need 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 good:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof will remove debris, mold and dirt. This will limit the risk of pests and rodents building nests on your roof, and it will freshen up the curb appeal. Centennial Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Centennial as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out the gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your rain gutters regularly, especially while it’s raining, to see if there are clogs that should be removed. Most companies recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it means that your roof is shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots attach to shingles and other types of materials and damage them if it isn’t gotten rid of fast enough. Typically homeowners opt to have a professional do this so no 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 result. If you are a capable handyman, you might feel confident enough doing minor repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofers in Centennial are trained 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 knocked off the shingles by debris, hail or heavy rain. These asphalt chunks help to protect your roof. If they start to come off, the roof will begin 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 superficial.
Replace fascia. Sometimes, 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 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 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 necessary, replacing the flashing is also an easy task for roofers 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 between 20 and 30 years, you will probably only have to replace it once or twice. Of course, if you move often, you might end up replacing a lot of roofs in your lifetime.
When buying a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can also include the price of a new roof – if one is needed – in the closing costs or request that the seller has the roof replaced before the sale. When trying to sell a home, give Centennial Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Centennial to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.