Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The average shingle roof will last around 20 years, more or less depending on 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 along the way can reduce or increase the time between roof replacements. If you are lucky, you could end up only having to replace your roof once in your lifetime, just so long as you give it the attention it requires.
Roof replacement is very expensive regardless of the type of roof. You’re a lot better off doing routine maintenance and minor repairs as needed in order to help extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing skills – or just don’t like the idea of climbing a tall ladder – you can call a licensed, certified roofer in Cleveland to help you with all your maintenance and repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing tasks to prevent roof damage before it occurs is the cheapest way to lengthen 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 trees. Rotting, dying trees will also drop their heavy branches onto your roof if they’re 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 installed over your gutters to prevent clogging. They can reduce the amount of gutter cleaning you have to do and help prevent overflow into your yard. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning company in Cleveland.
Schedule routine inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after a couple of years, and metal roofs can get dented or begin to show signs of age such as rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a roofing pro will let you know if there’s an issue that needs to be repaired.
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 options so you can feel safe about putting these coatings on your home, where they will run off and possibly be in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation systems are in prime condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation problem. Lack of ventilation will result in trapped moisture. This can quickly result in mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors throughout your house. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will ruin wood and other materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
From time to time, you’ll want to complete some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done in a timely manner, you’ll help prevent leaks and lengthen the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the type.
Do these chores at least once every 12 months to prevent damages and keep your home’s roof looking good:
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 freshen up the appearance of your home. Cleveland Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Cleveland as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out rain gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your gutters regularly, especially if it’s raining, to observe if there are any clogs that need to be removed. Most pros recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring 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 types of materials and ruin them if it isn’t eliminated fast enough. Most homeowners opt to have a professional 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 issues should occur. If you are a capable handyman, you may feel confident doing minor repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies in Cleveland are more than willing 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. These asphalt pieces help protect your home’s roof. If they start to come off, the roof will start to look worn, but, more importantly, it won’t protect what’s underneath. Only a small section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is 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 also need to be replaced. The fascia can sometimes leak, letting mold and mildew into your home, plus pests.
Re-caulk around the flashings. Flashings fill in gaps on the roof where it is hard to place roofing material. It’s the most common location for leaks, and it is very easily damaged. If more extensive work is required, replacing the flashing is also a simple project for professionals and proficient homeowners as well.
YOUR ROOF NEEDS LOVE TOO!
The roof is often the most expensive home maintenance costs. With the typical lifespan 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 several times, 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 one is needed – in the closing costs or request that the seller has the roof replaced before the sale. When selling a house, give Cleveland Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Cleveland to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.