Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The average shingle roof will last 20-25 years, more or less depending on storm damage and usual wear and tear. Other types of 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 shorten or lengthen the time between roof replacements. If you play your cards right, you might end up only having to install a new roof once in your lifetime, so long as you give it the attention it requires.
Installing a new roof is expensive no matter the type of roof you have. You’re much better off in the long run doing routine maintenance and minor repairs as needed in order to extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing abilities – or just hate the thought of climbing up a ladder – you can always hire a licensed, certified roofer in Pasadena to help you with all your maintenance and roof repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing tasks to prevent roof damage before it happens is the most affordable way to lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are a couple of preventative care ideas for your home’s roof:
Cut branches that hang over your roof. Powerful winds and rain storms can break branches and even push over whole trees. Rotting, dying trees can also drop their heavy branches onto your roof if they’re not regularly pruned. Falling limbs damage all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and metal roofs.
Install gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers that can be installed on top of your gutters to prevent clogging. They can reduce the amount of gutter cleaning you have to do and prevent rain flowing into your landscaping. You can install gutter guards yourself or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning company in Pasadena.
Schedule routine inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after a few years, and metal roofs can get dented or start to show signs of aging like rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a roofing pro can let you know if there’s a problem that has to be resolved.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings renew the oils from roof shingles so they don’t dry out, helping 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 inevitably run off and be in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation systems are in prime condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation problem. Lack of ventilation can lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors throughout your home. Besides being a nuisance, mold and mildew will wreak havoc on wood and other materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Here and there, you’ll have to complete some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done often enough, you’ll prevent leaks and lengthen the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the materials it’s made of.
Do these projects 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 building nests on your home’s roof, and it will renew the appearance of your home. Pasadena Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Pasadena as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out the gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your gutters often, especially while it’s raining, to observe if there are clogs that have to be cleared. Most gutter experts recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall.
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 roof shingles and other types of materials and damage them if it isn’t eliminated fast enough. Many homeowners choose to have a professional do this so no damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages will happen, but so long as you tend to them right away, no major problems should result. If you are a handyman, you may feel confident doing minor roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofers in Pasadena are able to complete 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 heavy rain storms. 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 section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is superficial.
Replace fascia. Occasionally, 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 have to be replaced. The fascia can sometimes leak, allowing mold and mildew into your home, plus pests.
Re-caulk around the flashings. Flashings fill in the gaps on the roof where it is difficult to place roofing material. It’s the most common location for leaks, and it is easily damaged. If more extensive work is needed, replacing the flashing is also a simple task 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 between 20 and 30 years, you will likely only have to install a new one once or twice. Of course, if you move often, you might end up replacing quite a few roofs during your lifetime.
When purchasing a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your time. You can also include the cost of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or request that the seller have the roof replaced prior to the sale. When selling a home, give Pasadena Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Pasadena to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.