Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The typical shingle roof will last around 20 years, more or less depending on storm damage and wear and tear. Other roofing materials can last longer, but are also more expensive to install.
The extent and level of care you give your roof can reduce or increase the time between roof replacements. If you are good about maintaining your roof, you could end up only having to install a new roof once in your lifetime, so long as you give it the maintenance it needs.
Roof replacement is expensive regardless of the type of roof you have. You’re a lot better off in the long run doing routine maintenance and minor repairs as needed to extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing skills – or just hate the idea of climbing a ladder – you can always hire a licensed, certified roofer in Newton to help you with all your maintenance and roof repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing projects to prevent roof damage before it occurs is the cheapest route to increase the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are a couple of preventative care ideas for your home’s roof:
Cut tree branches hanging over your roof. Strong winds and rain can break tree branches and even knock over trees. Decaying, dying trees can also drop their branches right onto your roof if they’re not regularly pruned. Falling limbs ruin all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and metal roofs.
Install rain gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers that can be installed over your rain gutters to prevent clogging. They can reduce the amount of gutter cleaning that you need to do and prevent rain flowing into your yard. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning service in Newton.
Schedule routine inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after a couple of years, and metal roofs will be dented or start to show signs of age like rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a company can let you know if there’s a problem that has to be resolved.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings replenish the oils from roof 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 products so you can feel safe about putting these products on your home, where they will inevitably run off and be in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation systems 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 lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as odors in your house. Besides being a nuisance, mold and mildew will ruin wood and other home materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
From time to time, you’ll need to complete 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 things at least once every 12 months to prevent damages and keep your home’s 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 home’s roof, and it will instantly renew the appearance of your home. Newton Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Newton as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out rain gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your rain gutters regularly, especially while it’s raining, to see if there are any clogs that have to be cleared. Most pros recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it probably means that your roof is too shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots attach to roof shingles and other materials and damage them if it isn’t gotten rid of quickly. Many homeowners prefer to have a professional do this so no unnecessary damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages happen, but so long as you take care of them quickly, no major problems should occur. If you are a handyman, you might feel confident enough doing minor roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies in Newton are trained to tackle these fast fixes for you to keep your roof in optimal condition.
Replace damaged or worn shingles. Shingles have asphalt bits attached to them. The texture can be knocked off the shingles by debris, hail or strong rain storms. These asphalt chunks help protect your home’s roof. If they start coming off, the roof will look worn, but, more importantly, it won’t protect what’s below. Only a small section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is 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 have to be replaced. The fascia can leak, allowing 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 easily damaged. If more extensive work is needed, replacing the flashing is also 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 lifespan of a roof being between 20 and 30 years, you will likely only need to install a new one once or twice. Of course, if you move several times, you could end up installing quite a few roofs in your lifetime.
When purchasing a new house, a roof inspection is definitely worth your time. You can include the cost of a new roof – if one is needed – in the closing costs or request that the home seller have the roof replaced prior to the sale. When trying to sell a house, give Newton Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Newton to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.