Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof will last around 20 years, depending on damage and wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials can last longer, but they are more expensive to install.
The amount and level of care you give your roof along the way can reduce or increase the time between roof replacements. If you are lucky, you could end up only having to replace your roof once in your lifetime, so long as you give it the attention it needs.
Roof replacement is very expensive no matter the type of roof. You’re better off in the long run doing maintenance and minor repairs as they arise in order to help lengthen the lifetime of your roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing skills – or just don’t like the idea of climbing up a tall ladder – you can always hire a licensed, certified roofer in Alpharetta to give you a hand with all of your maintenance and roof repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing projects to prevent roof damage before it occurs is by far the most affordable way to increase the lifetime of your roof. Here are some preventative care ideas for your roof:
Cut tree limbs hanging over your roof. Gusting winds and rain can break tree limbs and even push over whole trees. Decaying, dying trees can also drop their branches onto your roof if they’re not pruned. Falling limbs destroy all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and even metal roofs.
Install rain gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers installed on top of your rain gutters to reduce clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning you need to do and help prevent overflow into your yard. You can install gutter guards yourself or leave the work to a roofer or gutter cleaning service in Alpharetta.
Schedule regular inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after only a few years, and metal roofs can get dented or begin to show signs of aging like rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a pro can let you know if there’s a problem that has to be resolved.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings replenish the oils from roof 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 products so you can feel safe about putting these products on your home, where they will inevitably run off and possibly come in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation systems are in prime condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation issue. Limited ventilation can cause trapped moisture. This can quickly lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as odors inside of your home. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will ruin wood and other materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
From time to time, you’ll have to complete some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done in a timely manner, you’ll help prevent leaks and increase the lifetime of your roof, regardless of the materials it’s made from.
Do these things 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 renew the curb appeal. AGA Alpharetta Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Alpharetta as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out rain gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your rain gutters often, especially while it’s raining, to observe if there are any clogs that should be cleared. Most pros recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it probably means that your roof is shaded and stays very moist. Moss’s roots will attach to roof shingles and other types of materials and damage them if it isn’t gotten rid of 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 take care of them right away, no serious problems should occur. If you are a handyman, you might feel confident enough doing minor roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies in Alpharetta are able 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 pieces help to protect your roof. If they start to come off, the roof will begin 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 part of your 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, letting mold and mildew into your home, let alone 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 most common location for leaks, and it is very easily damaged. If more complicated work is required, replacing the flashing is an easy project for roofers 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 around 20 and 30 years, you will probably only need to install a new one once or twice. Of course, if you move several times, you could end up installing a lot of roofs during your lifetime.
When purchasing a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can also include the price of a new roof – if one is needed – in the closing costs or ask that the seller has the roof replaced before the sale. When selling a home, give AGA Alpharetta Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Alpharetta to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.