Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The typical shingle roof will last 20 years, more or less depending on damage and wear and tear. Other roofing materials last longer, but are also more expensive to install.
The extent and quality of care you give your roof along the way can shorten or increase the time between new roof replacements. If you are lucky, you could end up only having to install a new roof on your home once in your lifetime, just so long as you give it the maintenance it requires.
Installing a new roof is expensive regardless of the type of roof you have. You’re better off doing maintenance and small repairs as needed to help lengthen the lifetime of your roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing abilities – or just hate the idea of climbing a ladder – you can hire a licensed, certified roofer in Savannah to give you a hand with all your maintenance and repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing tasks to prevent most roof damage before it happens is the cheapest way to increase the lifetime of your roof. Here are a couple of preventative care measures for your roof:
Cut tree branches that hang over your roof. Powerful winds and rain storms can break tree branches and even knock over trees. Rotting, dying trees will also drop their heavy branches onto your roof if they’re not pruned. Falling limbs ruin all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and even metal roofs.
Install rain gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers that can be installed over your rain gutters to prevent 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 on your own or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning service in Savannah .
Schedule regular inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after only a few years, and metal roofs can get dented or start to show signs of age such as rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a roofing pro will let you know if there’s a problem that needs to be resolved.
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 lifespan. There are regular and plant-based products so you can feel safe about putting these products on your home, where they will run off and possibly be in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation system are in prime condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation issue. Limited ventilation will cause trapped moisture. This can quickly lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors throughout your home. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will eat away at wood and other home materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Every once in a while, you’ll want to do some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done often enough, you’ll help prevent leaks and increase the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the type.
Do these chores at least once every 12 months 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 instantly renew the curb appeal. Savannah Pressure WashTech offers roof cleaning in Savannah as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out the gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your rain gutters often, especially while it’s raining, to see if there are clogs that have to be removed. Most companies recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring months and again in the fall.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it likely means that your roof is shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots will attach to shingles and other materials and damage them if it isn’t removed quickly. Typically homeowners choose to have a professional do this so no damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages happen, but so long as you tend to them quickly, no major issues should result. If you are a handyman, you may feel confident enough doing small repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofers in Savannah 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 heavy rain storms. These asphalt chunks help to protect your roof. If they start coming off, the roof will start to look worn, but, most 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. Occasionally, the section 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, plus pests.
Re-caulk around the flashings. Flashings fill in 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 easily damaged. If more complicated work is needed, replacing the flashing is also a simple task 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 around 20 and 30 years, you will likely only need to install a new one once or twice. Of course, if you move several times, you could end up replacing a lot of roofs during your lifetime.
When purchasing a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your time. You can also 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 Savannah Pressure WashTech a call for professional roof cleaning in Savannah to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.