Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof lasts around 20-25 years, more or less depending on storm damage and natural wear and tear. Other roofing materials can last longer, but are also more expensive to install.
The extent and level of care you give your roof along the way can reduce or increase the time between new roof replacements. If you are good about caring for your roof, you might end up only having to install a new roof once in your lifetime, as long as you give it the attention 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 needed to extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing skills – or just hate the thought of climbing a ladder – you can always call a licensed, certified roofer in Santa Monica to help you with all your maintenance and roof repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing tasks to prevent roof damage before it occurs is the most affordable route to lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are a few preventative care projects for your home’s roof:
Cut tree limbs hanging over your roof. Gusting winds and rain can break tree limbs and even push over trees. Decaying, dying trees will also drop their heavy branches onto your roof if they’re not routinely 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 that can be installed on top of your rain gutters to prevent clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning you have to do and prevent rain flowing into your landscaping. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the work to a roofer or gutter cleaning service in Santa Monica.
Have 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 such as rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a company will let you know if there’s an issue that needs to be repaired.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings renew the oils from roof shingles so they don’t dry out, helping your roof last 5 years or more beyond its expected lifetime. There are regular and plant-based options so you can feel safe about spraying these products on your home, where they will run off and possibly 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. Lack of ventilation will result in trapped moisture. This can quickly lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors throughout your home. Besides being a nuisance, mold and mildew will wreak havoc on wood and other materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Here and there, you’ll need to complete 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 materials it’s made from.
Do these chores at least once every 12 months to prevent damages and keep your home’s roof looking nice:
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 immediately renew the curb appeal. Santa Monica Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Santa Monica as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your rain gutters often, especially while it’s raining, to see if there are any clogs that should be removed. Most pros recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring months and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it probably means that your roof is shaded and stays very moist. Moss’s roots attach to roof shingles and other materials and damage them if it isn’t eliminated fast enough. Many homeowners choose 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 take care of them right away, no major problems should result. If you are a handyman, you may feel confident enough doing minor roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofers in Santa Monica are more than willing to complete these fast fixes for you to keep your roof in optimal condition.
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. These asphalt chunks help protect your home’s roof. If they start to come 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 only superficial.
Replace fascia. Sometimes, the section of your home’s roof that rests between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will also have to be replaced. The fascia can sometimes leak, allowing 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 extensive work is needed, replacing the flashing is also a simple task 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 lifetime 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 might end up replacing a lot of roofs during your lifetime.
When purchasing a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your time. You can include the cost of a new roof – if one is needed – in the closing costs or ask that the seller has the roof replaced prior to the sale. When trying to sell a home, give Santa Monica Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Santa Monica to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.