Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The typical shingle roof lasts 20-25 years, more or less depending on storm damage and natural wear and tear. Other roofing materials will last longer, but are also more expensive to install.
The extent and level of care you give your roof along the way can shorten or increase the time between roof replacements. If you play your cards right, you could end up only having to replace your roof on your home once in your lifetime, just as long as you give it the care it requires.
Installing a new roof is very expensive regardless of the type of roof. You’re a lot better off doing routine maintenance and minor repairs as needed to help lengthen the lifetime of your roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing abilities – or just don’t like the idea of climbing a ladder – you can hire a licensed, certified roofer in Killeen to give you a hand with all of your maintenance and repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing things to prevent most roof damage before it happens is by far the most affordable way to extend the lifetime of your roof. Here are a few preventative care ideas for your roof:
Cut tree branches that hang over your roof. Strong winds and rain can break tree branches and even knock over trees. Decaying, dying trees can also drop their branches right onto your roof if they are not routinely pruned. Falling limbs destroy all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and metal roofs.
Install rain gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers installed over your rain gutters to reduce clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning you need to do and help prevent rain flowing into your yard. You can install gutter guards yourself or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning company in Killeen.
Have routine inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after only a couple of years, and metal roofs will be dented or begin to show signs of aging such as rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a company can let you know if there’s a problem that needs to be handled.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings replenish the oils from 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 options 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.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation systems are in good condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation problem. Lack of ventilation can lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly cause mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors in your home. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will ruin wood and other home materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Every once in a while, you’ll have to do some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done regularly, you’ll help prevent leaks and extend the lifetime of your roof, regardless of the materials it’s made of.
Do these projects 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 building nests on your roof, and it will instantly freshen up the appearance of your home. Killeen Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Killeen as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your rain gutters regularly, especially if it’s raining, to observe if there are any clogs that need to be cleared. Most pros recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it likely means that your roof is too shaded and stays very moist. Moss’s roots can attach to shingles and other materials and ruin them if it isn’t removed fast enough. Most homeowners choose to have a professional service do this so no damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages happen, but as long as you take care of them quickly, no major issues should result. If you are a capable handyman, you might feel confident enough doing minor repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies in Killeen are certified 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 strong rain. These asphalt chunks help to protect your roof. If they start coming off, the roof will look worn, but, more importantly, it won’t protect what’s underneath. Only a small section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is only superficial.
Replace fascia. Sometimes, the section of your roof that sits between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will also have to be replaced. The fascia can leak, letting 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, and it is very easily damaged. If more extensive work is needed, replacing the flashing is also a simple task 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 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 replacing a lot of roofs in your lifetime.
When purchasing a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can include the price of a new roof – if one is needed – in the closing costs or ask that the home seller has the roof replaced prior to the sale. When trying to sell a home, give Killeen Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Killeen to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.