Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof lasts around 20 years, depending on storm damage and natural wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials can last longer, but they are more expensive to install.
The extent and quality of care you give your roof along the way can shorten or extend the time between new roof replacements. If you play your cards right, you could end up only having to install a new roof on your home once in your lifetime, just as long as you give it the care it needs.
Roof replacement is very expensive regardless of the type of roof. You’re a lot better off in the long run doing maintenance and minor repairs as they arise to lengthen 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 up a ladder – you can always hire a licensed, certified roofer in Macon to give you a hand with all of your maintenance and roof repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing projects to prevent roof damage before it occurs is by far the cheapest way to increase the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are some preventative care ideas for your home’s roof:
Cut tree limbs hanging over your roof. Strong winds and rain storms can break tree limbs and even knock over trees. Decaying, dying trees can also drop their branches onto your roof if they are not 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 over your gutters to reduce clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning you have to do and prevent rain flowing into your yard. You can install gutter guards yourself or leave the work to a roofer or gutter cleaning company in Macon.
Schedule routine inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after a few years, and metal roofs will be dented or start to show signs of age like rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a roofing company can let you know if there’s an issue that has to be taken care of.
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 putting these products on your home, where they will run off and possibly be in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation system are in good condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation issue. 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 a nuisance, mold and mildew will ruin wood and other home materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Here and there, you’ll have to do some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done often enough, you’ll prevent leaks and increase the lifespan 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 home’s roof looking nice:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof will remove debris, mold and dirt. This will limit the risk of pests building nests on your home’s roof, and it will immediately renew the appearance of your home. Macon Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Macon 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 clogs that should be removed. Most pros recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it probably means that your roof is too shaded and stays very moist. Moss’s roots can attach to roof shingles and other types of materials and damage them if it isn’t gotten rid of fast enough. Typically homeowners opt 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 tend to them right away, no major issues should result. If you are a capable handyman, you may feel confident doing minor roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofers in Macon are able 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 removed from the shingles by debris, hail or heavy rain. These asphalt chunks help protect your home’s roof. If they start coming off, the roof will look worn, but, more importantly, it won’t protect what’s below. Only a section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is superficial.
Replace fascia. Occasionally, the part of your home’s 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, allowing mold and mildew into your home, and sometimes 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 on a roof, and it is very easily damaged. If more extensive work is needed, 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 frequently, you could end up installing quite a few roofs in your lifetime.
When buying a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can also include the cost of a new roof – if one is needed – in the closing costs or request that the home seller has the roof replaced prior to the sale. When trying to sell a home, give Macon Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Macon to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.