Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The typical shingle roof lasts around 20-25 years, depending on storm damage and wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials will last longer, but they are more expensive to install.
The extent and level of care you give your roof can reduce or increase 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, as long as you give it the maintenance it needs.
Roof replacement is very expensive regardless of the type of roof. You’re a lot better off in the long run doing routine maintenance and minor repairs as needed to extend the lifetime of your roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing skills – or just hate the idea of climbing up a tall ladder – you can call a licensed, certified roofer in Augusta to help you with all of your maintenance and roof repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing things to prevent most roof damage before it occurs is the most affordable route to lengthen the lifetime of your roof. Here are some preventative care ideas for your roof:
Cut limbs hanging over your roof. High winds and rain can break limbs and even knock over whole trees. Rotting, dying trees will also drop their branches onto your roof if they are not regularly pruned. Falling limbs damage 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 reduce clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning that you need to do and prevent rain flowing into your landscaping. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning service in Augusta.
Have routine inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after a couple of 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 will let you know if there’s a problem that needs to be handled.
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 products so you can feel safe about applying these coatings on your home, where they will run off and possibly come 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. Lack of ventilation will lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as odors in your home. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will ruin 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 roof. If this is done often enough, you’ll prevent leaks and lengthen the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the materials it’s made of.
Do these things at least once every 12 months to prevent damages and keep your roof looking good:
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 immediately freshen up the curb appeal. GLO Augusta Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Augusta as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out rain gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your gutters often, especially while it’s raining, to see if there are clogs that should be cleared. Most companies recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring months and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it means that your roof is shaded and stays very moist. Moss’s roots can attach to roof shingles and other types of materials and ruin them if it isn’t eliminated fast enough. Many homeowners choose to have a professional service 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 handyman, you may feel confident enough doing minor roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies in Augusta are trained to tackle these fast fixes for you to keep your roof in good shape.
Replace damaged or worn shingles. Shingles have asphalt bits attached to them. The texture can be knocked off 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 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. Occasionally, the section of your roof that sits between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will have 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 difficult to place roofing material. It’s the perfect location for leaks, and it is very easily damaged. If more complicated work is required, replacing the flashing is 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 need to install a new one one or two times. Of course, if you move frequently, you might end up installing quite a few roofs in your lifetime.
When purchasing a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your time. You can include the price of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or request that the seller has the roof replaced prior to the sale. When selling a home, give GLO Augusta Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Augusta to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.