Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof will last around 20-25 years, more or less 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 amount and quality of care you give your roof can reduce or lengthen the time between new roof replacements. If you play your cards right, you might 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’re a lot better off in the long run doing maintenance and minor repairs as needed in order to lengthen the lifetime of your roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing skills – or just can’t stand the idea of climbing up a tall ladder – you can hire a licensed, certified roofer in Norman to help you with all your maintenance and repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing tasks to prevent roof damage before it happens is by far the cheapest route to increase the lifetime of your roof. Here are a few preventative care recommendations for your roof:
Cut tree limbs hanging over your roof. High winds and rain can break tree limbs and even knock over whole trees. Decaying, dying trees will also drop their heavy branches right onto your roof if they’re not regularly pruned. Falling limbs damage 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 prevent clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning that you have to do and prevent overflow into your yard. You can install gutter guards yourself or leave the work to a roofer or gutter cleaning company in Norman.
Have regular 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 such as rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a roofing company will 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 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 options so you can feel safe about spraying these coatings on your home, where they will run off and possibly come in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation systems are in prime condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation problem. Lack of ventilation will cause trapped moisture. This can quickly result in mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors throughout your home. Besides being a nuisance, 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 regularly, you’ll 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 nice:
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 freshen up the appearance of your home. Norman Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Norman as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your rain gutters regularly, especially if it’s raining, to see if there are clogs that have to be cleared. Most companies recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it means that your roof is too shaded and stays very moist. Moss’s roots will attach to shingles and other types of materials and damage them if it isn’t eliminated quickly. Many 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 problems should result. If you are a capable handyman, you may feel confident doing minor repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofers in Norman are trained to tackle 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 removed from the shingles by debris, hail or strong rain storms. These asphalt chunks help protect your roof. If they start coming off, the roof will start to look worn, but, most importantly, it won’t protect what’s below. Only a small section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is only superficial.
Replace fascia. Sometimes, the part of your roof that sits 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 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 required, replacing the flashing is a simple project for roofers and proficient homeowners as well.
YOUR ROOF NEEDS LOVE TOO!
The roof is typically the most expensive home maintenance costs. With the typical lifespan of a roof being between 20 and 30 years, you will likely only have to install a new one one or two times. Of course, if you move several times, you might end up buying 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 has the roof replaced prior to the sale. When trying to sell a home, give Norman Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Norman to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.