Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The typical shingle roof lasts around 20-25 years, depending on storm damage and natural wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials will last longer, but they are more expensive to install.
The extent and level of care you give your roof can shorten or increase the time between new roof replacements. If you play your cards right, you could end up only having to replace your roof on your home once in your lifetime, so long as you give it the attention it needs.
Installing a new roof is expensive no matter the type of roof. You’re a lot better off in the long run doing routine maintenance and minor repairs as needed to lengthen the lifetime of your roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing abilities – or just hate the thought of climbing a ladder – you can hire a licensed, certified roofer in Tempe to give you a hand with all of your maintenance and roof repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing tasks to prevent roof damage before it occurs is the cheapest way to lengthen the lifetime of your roof. Here are a couple of preventative care recommendations for your roof:
Cut tree limbs that hang over your roof. Strong winds and rain can break tree limbs and even knock over whole trees. Rotting, dying trees can also drop their branches onto your roof if they’re not routinely pruned. Falling limbs damage all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and even metal roofs.
Install rain gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers 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 yourself or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning service in Tempe.
Schedule regular inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after only a few years, and metal roofs will be dented or begin to show signs of aging like rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a pro can let you know if there’s an issue that needs to be resolved.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings renew 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 options so you can feel safe about spraying these coatings on your home, where they will run off and possibly come in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation system are in excellent condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation problem. Limited ventilation can result in trapped moisture. This can quickly lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors inside of your house. Besides being a nuisance, mold and mildew will ruin wood and other home materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
From time to time, you’ll want to do some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done often enough, you’ll prevent leaks and lengthen the lifespan 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 removes debris, mold and dirt. This will reduce the risk of pests building nests on your roof, and it will immediately freshen up the curb appeal. Tempe Power Washing offers roof cleaning in Tempe as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out the gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your rain gutters often, especially while it’s raining, to observe if there are 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 probably means that your roof is shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots will attach to roof shingles and other types of materials and damage them if it isn’t eliminated fast enough. Typically homeowners opt to have a professional service do this so no damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages happen, but so long as you tend to them quickly, no major issues should occur. If you are a handyman, you may feel confident enough doing minor roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies in Tempe are certified to tackle these fast fixes for you to keep your roof in good shape.
Replace damaged or worn shingles. Shingles have asphalt bits attached to them. The texture can be knocked off the shingles by debris, hail or heavy rain storms. These asphalt chunks help to protect your roof. If they start to come off, the roof will begin to 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 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 need to be replaced. The fascia can leak, allowing mold and mildew into your home, let alone 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, and it is easily damaged. If more complicated work is necessary, replacing the flashing is 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 lifespan of a roof being around 20 and 30 years, you will likely only need to replace it once or twice. Of course, if you move often, you could end up replacing a lot of roofs during your lifetime.
When buying 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 Tempe Power Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Tempe to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.