Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof lasts around 20 years, more or less depending on storm damage and natural wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials will last longer, but are more expensive to install.
The amount and level of care you give your roof along the way can reduce or lengthen the time between new roof replacements. If you are good about caring for your roof, you might end up only having to replace your roof once in your lifetime, just so long as you give it the attention it requires.
Roof replacement is very expensive no matter the type of roof you have. You’re better off in the long run doing routine maintenance and small repairs as they arise to extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing abilities – or just can’t stand the thought of climbing up a tall ladder – you can always call a licensed, certified roofer in Chino to give you a hand with all your maintenance and repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing things to prevent most roof damage before it occurs is the cheapest way to lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are some preventative care tips for your home’s roof:
Cut branches hanging over your roof. Gusting winds and rain storms can break branches and even knock over whole trees. Decaying, dying trees can also drop their branches onto your roof if they are not regularly 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 installed over your rain gutters to prevent clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning that you need to do and prevent rain flowing into your yard. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning company in Chino.
Schedule routine inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after a couple of years, and metal roofs will be dented or start to show signs of age like rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a roofing pro can let you know if there’s an issue that has to be taken care of.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings renew the oils from 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 options so you can feel safe about applying these products on your home, where they will inevitably run off and be in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation system are in good 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 in your home. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will ruin wood and other materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Every once in a while, you’ll have to do some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done regularly, you’ll prevent leaks and lengthen the lifetime of your roof, regardless of the type.
Do these chores at least once a year to prevent damages and keep your home’s roof looking good:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof removes debris, mold and dirt. This will limit the risk of pests and rodents building nests on your home’s roof, and it will freshen up the curb appeal. Chino Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Chino as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out rain gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your rain gutters regularly, especially if it’s raining, to observe if there are clogs that need to be cleared. Most pros recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring months and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it likely means that your roof is too shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots will attach to shingles and other types of materials and ruin them if it isn’t removed quickly. Many homeowners choose to have a professional service 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 capable handyman, you might feel confident enough doing small repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies in Chino are able to complete these fast fixes for you to keep your roof in good shape.
Replace damaged or worn shingles. Shingles have asphalt bits attached to them. The texture can be knocked off the shingles by debris, hail or strong rain. These asphalt chunks help to protect your home’s roof. If they start to come off, the roof will start to look worn, but, more importantly, it won’t protect what’s underneath. Only a small section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is 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 have to be replaced. The fascia can leak, letting mold and mildew into your home, plus pests.
Re-caulk around the flashings. Flashings fill in the 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 a simple project for professionals 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 likely only need to replace it once or twice. Of course, if you move frequently, you might end up buying a lot of roofs in your lifetime.
When purchasing a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can also include the cost of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or ask that the seller have the roof replaced prior to the sale. When selling a home, give Chino Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Chino to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.