Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The typical shingle roof will last around 20 years, depending on storm damage and wear and tear. Other roofing materials will last longer, but they are also more expensive to install.
The extent 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 once in your lifetime, so long as you give it the attention it needs.
Installing a new roof is expensive regardless of the type of roof. You’re better off in the long run doing routine maintenance and minor repairs as they arise to help lengthen the lifetime of your roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing skills – or just don’t like the idea of climbing a tall ladder – you can call a licensed, certified roofer in Mesquite to help you with all your maintenance and roof repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing tasks to prevent roof damage before it occurs is the most affordable route to increase the lifetime of your roof. Here are some preventative care measures for your roof:
Cut branches that hang over your roof. High winds and rain storms can break branches and even push over trees. Decaying, dying trees will also drop their branches right onto your roof if they are not routinely 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 installed on top of your gutters to prevent clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning you need to do and help prevent overflow into your landscaping. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the work to a roofer or gutter cleaning service in Mesquite.
Schedule routine inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after a few years, and metal roofs can get dented or start to show signs of aging like rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a pro will let you know if there’s an issue that needs to be taken care of.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings renew the oils from roof shingles so they don’t dry out, making your roof last 5 years or more beyond its expected lifetime. There are regular and plant-based products so you can feel safe about putting these products on your home, where they will inevitably run off and be in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation system are in excellent condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation issue. Limited ventilation will cause trapped moisture. This can quickly cause mold and mildew growth, as well as odors in your home. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will eat away at wood and other materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Here and there, you’ll want to do some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done in a timely manner, you’ll help prevent leaks and increase the lifetime of your roof, regardless of the materials it’s made from.
Do these chores at least once a year to prevent damages and keep your roof looking good:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof will remove debris, mold and dirt. This will limit the risk of pests and rodents building nests on your roof, and it will immediately renew the curb appeal. Mesquite Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Mesquite as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out the gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your gutters often, especially while it’s raining, to observe if there are clogs that have to be removed. Most companies recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring months and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it probably means that your roof is shaded and stays very moist. Moss’s roots can attach to roof shingles and other materials and ruin them if it isn’t removed quickly. Many 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 quickly, no serious issues should occur. If you are a handyman, you may feel confident enough doing minor roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies in Mesquite are trained to complete 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 knocked off the shingles by debris, hail or heavy rain storms. These asphalt chunks help protect your roof. If they start to come off, the roof will 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 part of your roof that rests between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will also need 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, and it is easily damaged. If more extensive work is necessary, replacing the flashing is also an easy project for professionals and proficient homeowners as well.
YOUR ROOF NEEDS LOVE TOO!
The roof is one of the most expensive home maintenance costs. With the typical lifetime of a roof being around 20 and 30 years, you will likely only need to install a new one once or twice. Of course, if you move frequently, you could end up replacing quite a few roofs during your lifetime.
When purchasing a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can include the cost of a new roof – if one is needed – in the closing costs or ask that the seller has the roof replaced prior to the sale. When trying to sell a home, give Mesquite Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Mesquite to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.