Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The typical shingle roof lasts 20 years, more or less depending on damage and natural wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials will last longer, but they are also more expensive to install.
The extent and level of care you give your roof along the way can reduce or increase 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 maintenance it needs.
Roof replacement is very expensive no matter the type of roof you have. You’re a lot better off doing routine maintenance and small repairs as needed to extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing abilities – or just can’t stand the thought of climbing up a ladder – you can always hire a licensed, certified roofer in Sammamish to help you with all of your maintenance and repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing things to prevent roof damage before it occurs is by far the most affordable way to lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are a few preventative care tips for your home’s roof:
Cut branches that hang over your roof. Gusting winds and rain can break branches and even knock over trees. Rotting, dying trees can also drop their branches right onto your roof if they are not pruned. Falling limbs ruin all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and even 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 limit the amount of gutter cleaning you have to do and prevent overflow into your yard. You can install gutter guards yourself or leave the work to a roofer or gutter cleaning company in Sammamish.
Schedule regular inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after a few years, and metal roofs can get dented or begin to show signs of age such as rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a company can let you know if there’s a problem that needs to be repaired.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings replenish 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 spraying these coatings on your home, where they will run off and possibly be in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation system are in excellent condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation issue. Lack of ventilation can lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly cause mold and mildew growth, as well as odors throughout your home. Besides being a nuisance, mold and mildew will eat away at wood and other materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Here and there, you’ll have to do some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done regularly, 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 home’s roof looking nice:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof removes debris, mold and dirt. This will limit the risk of pests and rodents building nests on your home’s roof, and it will freshen up the appearance of your home. Sammamish Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Sammamish as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your gutters often, especially if it’s raining, to observe if there are any clogs that should be cleared. Most pros recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring months and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it likely means that your roof is too shaded and stays very moist. Moss’s roots attach to shingles and other types of materials and ruin them if it isn’t removed 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 as long as you take care of them quickly, no major problems should occur. If you are a capable handyman, you may feel confident doing small repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofers in Sammamish 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 pieces help to 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 below. Only a small section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is superficial.
Replace fascia. Sometimes, the section of your home’s roof that rests between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will also need to be replaced. The fascia can leak, letting mold and mildew into your home, and sometimes 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 very easily damaged. If more complicated work is necessary, replacing the flashing is also a simple task for roofers and proficient homeowners as well.
YOUR ROOF NEEDS LOVE TOO!
The roof is often 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 replace it one or two times. Of course, if you move often, you might end up buying a lot of roofs during your lifetime.
When buying a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can also include the price of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or request that the seller have the roof replaced before the sale. When trying to sell a home, give Sammamish Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Sammamish to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.