Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The average shingle roof lasts 20-25 years, more or less depending on storm damage and usual wear and tear. Other roofing materials last longer, but are 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 could end up only having to replace your roof once in your lifetime, just so long as you give it the maintenance it needs.
Roof replacement is expensive no matter the type of roof. You’re better off doing routine maintenance and small repairs as they arise to help extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing abilities – or just don’t like the idea of climbing a tall ladder – you can hire a licensed, certified roofer in Silver Spring to give you a hand with all your maintenance and roof repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing things to prevent most roof damage before it occurs is the cheapest route to extend the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are some preventative care tips for your home’s roof:
Cut tree limbs hanging over your roof. Gusting winds and rain can break tree limbs and even push over trees. Decaying, dying trees can also drop their branches onto your roof if they are not routinely pruned. Falling limbs ruin 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 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 Silver Spring .
Schedule regular inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after a few years, and metal roofs can get dented or start to show signs of aging such as rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a pro can let you know if there’s an issue that has to be repaired.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings replenish 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 applying 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 systems are in good condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation problem. Limited ventilation can cause trapped moisture. This can quickly lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as odors in your home. 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 have to do some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done often enough, you’ll help prevent leaks and extend the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the type.
Do these projects 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 reduce the risk of pests and rodents building nests on your home’s roof, and it will immediately renew the appearance of your home. Silver Spring Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Silver Spring as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out the gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your gutters often, especially if it’s raining, to see 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 shaded and stays very moist. Moss’s roots will attach to roof shingles and other materials and ruin them if it isn’t eliminated quickly. Most homeowners opt to have a professional do this so no damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages happen, but so long as you take care of them right away, no serious problems should occur. If you are a capable handyman, you may feel confident enough doing small roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies in Silver Spring are trained 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 chunks help to protect your home’s roof. If they start coming off, the roof will look worn, but, more importantly, it won’t protect what’s below. Only a section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is superficial.
Replace fascia. Occasionally, the section of your home’s roof that rests between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will need to be replaced. The fascia can sometimes leak, letting mold and mildew into your home, and sometimes 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 on a roof, and it is easily damaged. If more extensive work is needed, replacing the flashing is an easy project for professionals 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 install a new one one or two times. Of course, if you move often, you could end up replacing quite a few roofs in 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 one is needed – in the closing costs or request that the home seller have the roof replaced before the sale. When trying to sell a home, give Silver Spring Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Silver Spring to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.