Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The typical shingle roof lasts around 20 years, more or less depending on storm damage and natural wear and tear. Other roofing materials can last longer, but they are also more expensive to install.
The amount and level of care you give your roof can shorten or increase the time between roof replacements. If you play your cards right, you could end up only having to install a new roof on your home once in your lifetime, so long as you give it the attention it needs.
Installing a new roof is very expensive regardless of the type of roof you have. You’re a lot better off in the long run doing maintenance and small repairs as needed to extend the lifetime of your roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing abilities – or just hate the thought of climbing a tall ladder – you can find a licensed, certified roofer in Cypress 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 happens is the most affordable way to lengthen the lifetime of your roof. Here are a couple of preventative care measures for your roof:
Cut branches hanging over your roof. Powerful winds and rain 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 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 over your gutters to prevent clogging. They can reduce the amount of gutter cleaning that you need to do and prevent overflow into your landscaping. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning service in Cypress.
Have regular inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after only a few years, and metal roofs will be dented or start 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 should be repaired.
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 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 come in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation system are in good condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation problem. Limited ventilation can lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors throughout your house. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will eat away at wood and other materials, weakening 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 lifetime of your roof, regardless of the type.
Do these things at least once a year to prevent damages and keep your roof looking nice:
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 renew the curb appeal. Cypress Pressure Wash Co. offers roof cleaning in Cypress as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out rain gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your gutters regularly, especially if it’s raining, to see if there are clogs that should be cleared. Most companies recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it probably means that your roof is too 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 service 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 result. If you are a handyman, you may feel confident doing small roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies in Cypress 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 removed from the shingles by debris, hail or strong rain storms. These asphalt pieces help 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 below. Only a section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is only superficial.
Replace fascia. Sometimes, the section of your roof that rests 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 gaps on the roof where it is hard to place roofing material. It’s the most common location for leaks on a roof, and it is very 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 often the most expensive home maintenance costs. With the typical lifetime of a roof being between 20 and 30 years, you will likely only need to replace it one or two times. Of course, if you move frequently, you could end up installing quite a few 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 necessary – in the closing costs or request that the seller have the roof replaced before the sale. When trying to sell a house, give Cypress Pressure Wash Co. a call for professional roof cleaning in Cypress to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.