Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The average shingle roof will last around 20 years, depending on damage and natural wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials can last longer, but they are more expensive to install.
The amount and level of care you give your roof can reduce or extend the time between new roof replacements. If you are good about caring for your roof, you might end up only having to install a new roof once in your lifetime, just so long as you give it the maintenance it requires.
Installing a new roof 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 roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing abilities – or just hate the idea of climbing a ladder – you can always find a licensed, certified roofer in The Woodlands to give you a hand with all of your maintenance and repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing projects to prevent most roof damage before it occurs is by far the most affordable way to lengthen the lifetime of your roof. Here are a couple of preventative care projects for your roof:
Cut limbs hanging over your roof. Strong winds and rain can break limbs and even push over trees. Rotting, dying trees will 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 metal roofs.
Install rain gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers installed over your rain gutters to reduce clogging. They can reduce the amount of gutter cleaning that you have to do and help 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 The Woodlands.
Have routine inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after only a couple of years, and metal roofs can get dented or start to show signs of aging such as rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a pro will let you know if there’s a problem that needs to be resolved.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings renew 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 products so you can feel safe about putting these coatings on your home, where they will inevitably run off and possibly be in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation systems are in excellent condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation problem. Limited ventilation will cause trapped moisture. This can quickly result in mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors in your home. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will wreak havoc on wood and other materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Every once in a while, you’ll have to do some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done often enough, you’ll help prevent leaks and lengthen the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the materials it’s made of.
Do these chores 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 reduce the risk of pests and rodents building nests on your roof, and it will instantly freshen up the curb appeal. Woodlands Pressure Wash Plus offers roof cleaning in The Woodlands as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your rain gutters regularly, especially if it’s raining, to observe if there are any clogs that have to be removed. Most gutter experts recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring months and again in the fall.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it means that your roof is too shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots attach to shingles and other types of materials and damage them if it isn’t removed quickly. Most homeowners prefer 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 major issues should occur. If you are a handyman, you may feel confident doing minor repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies in The Woodlands are certified 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 chunks help protect your 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 small section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is only superficial.
Replace fascia. Occasionally, the part of your roof that sits between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will have 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 the gaps on the roof where it is impossible to place roofing material. It’s the perfect location for leaks on a roof, and it is very easily damaged. If more extensive work is needed, replacing the flashing is a simple project 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 probably only have to install a new one once or twice. Of course, if you move frequently, you might end up installing a lot of roofs in your lifetime.
When buying a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can include the price of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or ask that the seller has the roof replaced before the sale. When trying to sell a home, give Woodlands Pressure Wash Plus a call for professional roof cleaning in The Woodlands to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.