Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The typical shingle roof will last 20 years, depending on damage and wear and tear. Other roofing materials will last longer, but are also more expensive to install.
The extent and quality of care you give your roof along the way can reduce or extend the time between new roof replacements. If you are lucky, you might end up only having to install a new roof once in your lifetime, just as long as you give it the care it needs.
Installing a new roof is expensive no matter the type of roof. You’re much better off in the long run doing maintenance and minor repairs as needed to help extend the lifetime of your roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing abilities – or just don’t like the thought of climbing a ladder – you can always call a licensed, certified roofer in Aurora to give you a hand with all your maintenance and repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing things to prevent most roof damage before it happens is the cheapest way to increase the lifetime of your roof. Here are some preventative care measures for your roof:
Cut limbs hanging over your roof. High winds and rain can break limbs and even knock over trees. Rotting, dying trees can also drop their branches onto your roof if they’re not 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 on top of your gutters to prevent clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning you have to do and help prevent overflow into your yard. You can install gutter guards yourself or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning service in Aurora.
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 regular inspections done by a roofing pro can let you know if there’s an issue that has 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 products so you can feel safe about putting these coatings on your home, where they will run off and possibly 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 issue. Lack of ventilation can cause trapped moisture. This can quickly result in mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors inside of your house. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will ruin wood and other materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Every once in a while, you’ll want to do some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done in a timely manner, you’ll help prevent leaks and increase the lifetime of your roof, regardless of the materials it’s made from.
Do these things at least once a year to prevent damages and keep your roof looking nice:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof removes debris, mold and dirt. This will limit the risk of pests building nests on your roof, and it will immediately freshen up the appearance of your home. Aurora Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Aurora 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 see if there are any clogs that should be cleared. Most gutter experts recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it probably means that your roof is too shaded and stays very moist. Moss’s roots will attach to shingles and other materials and damage 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 take care of them quickly, no major issues should result. If you are a capable handyman, you might feel confident doing minor repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofers in Aurora are certified 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 knocked off the shingles by debris, hail or strong rain storms. These asphalt chunks help to protect your roof. If they start to come off, the roof will start to look worn, but, most 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 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, 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 impossible to place roofing material. It’s the most common location for leaks, and it is easily damaged. If more complicated work is required, replacing the flashing is also an easy project 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 lifetime of a roof being around 20 and 30 years, you will probably only have to install a new one one or two times. Of course, if you move frequently, you might end up replacing a lot of roofs in your lifetime.
When purchasing a new house, a roof inspection is definitely worth your time. You can also include the price of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or ask that the seller has the roof replaced prior to the sale. When trying to sell a house, give Aurora Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Aurora to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.