Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof lasts 20 years, more or less depending on damage and usual wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials can last longer, but they are more expensive to install.
The extent and level of care you give your roof can shorten or extend 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, just as long as you give it the care it needs.
Installing a new roof is very expensive no matter the type of roof you have. You’re much better off doing maintenance and minor repairs as they arise in order to help extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing abilities – or just hate the idea of climbing up a tall ladder – you can always hire a licensed, certified roofer in Cambridge to help you with all your maintenance and roof repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing things to prevent roof damage before it occurs is the cheapest way to lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are some preventative care tips for your home’s roof:
Cut tree limbs that hang over your roof. Strong winds and rain storms can break tree limbs and even push over trees. Decaying, dying trees can also drop their heavy branches onto your roof if they’re 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 over your gutters to prevent clogging. They can reduce the amount of gutter cleaning that you have to do and help prevent overflow into your yard. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the work to a roofer or gutter cleaning company in Cambridge.
Schedule routine inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after a few years, and metal roofs will be dented or begin to show signs of aging like rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a company can let you know if there’s a problem that has to be resolved.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings replenish 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 spraying these coatings on your home, where they will inevitably run off and be in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation systems are in good condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation issue. Limited ventilation can cause trapped moisture. This can quickly result in mold and mildew growth, as well as odors in your home. Besides being a nuisance, 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 have to complete some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done in a timely manner, you’ll help prevent leaks and lengthen the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the materials it’s made from.
Do these chores at least once every 12 months to prevent damages and keep your home’s roof looking nice:
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 instantly renew the curb appeal. Cambridge Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Cambridge as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out rain gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your gutters regularly, especially if it’s raining, to observe if there are clogs that have to be removed. Most pros recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it likely means that your roof is 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. Most homeowners prefer to have a professional do this so no unnecessary damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages happen, but as long as you take care of them quickly, no serious issues should result. If you are a handyman, you may feel confident enough doing minor roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies in Cambridge are more than willing 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 strong rain storms. These asphalt chunks help to protect your home’s roof. If they start to come off, the roof will begin 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 part of your home’s roof that rests between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will have to be replaced. The fascia can sometimes leak, allowing mold and mildew into your home, let alone pests.
Re-caulk around the flashings. Flashings fill in the 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 extensive work is needed, 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 lifespan of a roof being around 20 and 30 years, you will likely only have to replace it one or two times. Of course, if you move several times, you might end up replacing a lot of roofs in 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 seller have the roof replaced prior to the sale. When selling a home, give Cambridge Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Cambridge to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.