Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof lasts around 20-25 years, depending on storm damage and wear and tear. Other roofing materials can last longer, but they are more expensive to install.
The amount and quality of care you give your roof along the way can shorten or lengthen the time between roof replacements. If you are good about caring for your roof, you could end up only having to install a new roof once in your lifetime, so long as you give it the attention it requires.
Installing a new roof is very expensive no matter the type of roof. You’re much better off in the long run doing routine maintenance and small repairs as needed to extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing skills – or just can’t stand the thought of climbing a tall ladder – you can always call a licensed, certified roofer in Arlington Heights to give you a hand with all of your maintenance and repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing projects to prevent roof damage before it happens is the most affordable way to increase the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are a couple of preventative care tips for your home’s roof:
Cut tree limbs hanging over your roof. Gusting winds and rain can break tree limbs and even knock over trees. Decaying, dying trees can also drop their heavy branches 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 that you have to do and prevent rain flowing into your landscaping. You can install gutter guards yourself or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning company in Arlington Heights.
Schedule routine inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after only a couple of years, and metal roofs will be dented or begin to show signs of age like rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a roofing company can let you know if there’s an issue that should be handled.
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 coatings on your home, where they will run off and possibly come in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation systems are in good condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation problem. Limited ventilation can lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly cause mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors inside of your home. Besides being a nuisance, mold and mildew will wreak havoc on 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 regularly, you’ll prevent leaks and increase the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the type.
Do these projects at least once every 12 months to prevent damages and keep your home’s roof looking good:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof removes debris, mold and dirt. This will reduce the risk of pests building nests on your home’s roof, and it will instantly freshen up the appearance of your home. Arlington Heights Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Arlington Heights as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your gutters often, especially if it’s raining, to see if there are clogs that should be cleared. Most gutter experts 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 materials and ruin them if it isn’t gotten rid of fast enough. Typically homeowners choose to have a professional service do this so no damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages will happen, but so long as you tend to them quickly, no serious problems should occur. If you are a capable handyman, you might feel confident enough doing small repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies in Arlington Heights are more than willing to complete 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 knocked off the shingles by debris, hail or strong rain storms. These asphalt chunks help to 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 below. Only a section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is only superficial.
Replace fascia. Sometimes, the part 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, letting mold and mildew into your home, plus pests.
Re-caulk around the flashings. Flashings fill in gaps on the roof where it is difficult to place roofing material. It’s the most common location for leaks on a roof, and it is very easily damaged. If more complicated work is required, replacing the flashing is an easy project for professionals 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 have to install a new one once or twice. Of course, if you move often, you could end up replacing quite a few roofs in your lifetime.
When purchasing 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 home seller has the roof replaced before the sale. When selling a home, give Arlington Heights Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Arlington Heights to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.