Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof lasts around 20 years, more or less depending on damage and natural wear and tear. Other roofing materials can last longer, but they are more expensive to install.
The extent and level of care you give your roof along the way can reduce or lengthen the time between roof replacements. If you are lucky, you might end up only having to replace your roof once in your lifetime, just as long as you give it the care it needs.
Roof replacement is very expensive no matter the type of roof. You’re better off doing maintenance and small repairs as they arise to help extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing skills – or just can’t stand the idea of climbing a tall ladder – you can call a licensed, certified roofer in St. Louis to help you with all your maintenance and roof repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing projects to prevent roof damage before it happens is by far the cheapest way to extend the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are a few preventative care measures 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 whole trees. Rotting, dying trees can also drop their heavy branches right onto your roof if they are not 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 on top of your gutters to reduce clogging. They can reduce the amount of gutter cleaning you have to do and help prevent rain flowing into your yard. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the work to a roofer or gutter cleaning service in St. Louis.
Have routine inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after only a couple of years, and metal roofs can get dented or begin to show signs of age like rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a roofing 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 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 products on your home, where they will inevitably run off and possibly come in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation system are in good condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation problem. Lack of ventilation can lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly result in mold and mildew growth, as well as odors throughout 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 home’s roof. If this is done regularly, you’ll help prevent leaks and extend the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the type.
Do these things at least once every 12 months to prevent damages and keep your home’s roof looking good:
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 immediately renew the curb appeal. STL Pressure Wash Co. offers roof cleaning in St. Louis 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 any clogs that have to be removed. Most companies recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it probably means that your roof is shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots attach to roof shingles and other materials and ruin them if it isn’t eliminated quickly. Most homeowners decide to have a professional do this so no damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages happen, but as long as you tend to them right away, no serious issues should result. If you are a handyman, you may feel confident enough doing small roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofers in St. Louis are certified to tackle 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 removed from the shingles by debris, hail or strong rain storms. These asphalt chunks help 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 small section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is only superficial.
Replace fascia. Sometimes, the section of your home’s roof that rests between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will need to be replaced. The fascia can sometimes leak, allowing mold and mildew into your home, and sometimes pests.
Re-caulk around the flashings. Flashings fill in the gaps on the roof where it is impossible 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 required, replacing the flashing is a simple project for roofers and proficient homeowners as well.
YOUR ROOF NEEDS LOVE TOO!
The roof is one of the most expensive home maintenance costs. With the typical lifespan of a roof being between 20 and 30 years, you will probably only have to replace it once or twice. Of course, if you move often, you might end up replacing a lot of roofs during your lifetime.
When buying a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. 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 home, give STL Pressure Wash Co. a call for professional roof cleaning in St. Louis to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.