Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The typical shingle roof will last around 20-25 years, more or less depending on storm damage and natural wear and tear. Other roofing materials can last longer, but are more expensive to install.
The extent and level of care you give your roof along the way can shorten or extend 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 so long as you give it the attention it requires.
Installing a new roof is very expensive no matter the type of roof you have. You’re much better off in the long run doing routine maintenance and small repairs as needed in order to lengthen the lifetime of your roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing abilities – or just hate the thought of climbing up a ladder – you can always call a licensed, certified roofer in Philadelphia 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 the most affordable route to lengthen the lifetime of your roof. Here are a couple of preventative care projects for your roof:
Cut tree limbs hanging over your roof. Powerful winds and rain can break tree limbs and even knock over trees. Decaying, dying trees can also drop their heavy branches right onto your roof if they are not pruned. Falling limbs destroy all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and even metal roofs.
Install rain gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers that can be installed over your rain gutters to reduce clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning that 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 Philadelphia.
Have 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 age such as rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a roofing company can let you know if there’s a problem that has to be resolved.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings renew the oils from shingles so they don’t dry out, helping your roof last 5 years or more beyond its expected lifetime. There are regular and plant-based products so you can feel safe about spraying these products on your home, where they will run off and possibly be in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation system are in excellent condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation problem. Lack of ventilation can result in 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 home materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Here and there, you’ll have to complete some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done in a timely manner, you’ll prevent leaks and lengthen the lifetime 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 nice:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof removes debris, mold and dirt. This will limit the risk of pests and rodents building nests on your roof, and it will renew the appearance of your home. AllPro Philadelphia Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Philadelphia as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out the gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your rain gutters often, especially if it’s raining, to see if there are any clogs that need to be cleared. Most gutter experts recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it likely means that your roof is too shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots can attach to shingles and other materials and damage them if it isn’t eliminated quickly. Most homeowners opt to have a professional service do this so no unnecessary damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages happen, but so long as you tend to them right away, no serious problems should occur. If you are a handyman, you may feel confident enough doing small repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofers in Philadelphia are certified to tackle these fast fixes for you to keep your roof in optimal condition.
Replace damaged or worn shingles. Shingles have asphalt pieces attached to them. The texture can be removed from the shingles by debris, hail or heavy rain storms. These asphalt pieces help to protect your roof. If they start to come off, the roof will begin to look worn, but, most importantly, it won’t protect what’s underneath. Only a section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is only superficial.
Replace fascia. Sometimes, the section 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, letting mold and mildew into your home, let alone pests.
Re-caulk around the flashings. Flashings fill in gaps on the roof where it is hard to place roofing material. It’s the perfect location for leaks on a roof, and it is very easily damaged. If more complicated work is necessary, 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 lifetime of a roof being between 20 and 30 years, you will likely only have to install a new one one or two times. Of course, if you move several times, you might end up buying a lot of roofs during your lifetime.
When buying a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your time. You can include the cost of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or request that the home seller has the roof replaced prior to the sale. When selling a home, give AllPro Philadelphia Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Philadelphia to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.