Tips to Maintain Your Roof

The average shingle roof lasts 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 are also more expensive to install.

The extent and level of care you give your roof along the way can shorten 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 on your home once in your lifetime, just as long as you give it the maintenance it requires.

Installing a new roof is expensive no matter the type of roof you have. You’re much better off in the long run doing routine maintenance and small 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 thought of climbing up a tall ladder – you can always call a licensed, certified roofer in Huntington Beach to help you with all your maintenance and roof repair projects.

PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE

Doing projects to prevent roof damage before it happens is the most affordable way to increase the lifetime of your roof. Here are a couple of preventative care tips for your roof:

Cut branches that hang over your roof. Strong winds and rain can break branches and even knock over whole trees. Rotting, dying trees will also drop their heavy branches right onto your roof if they are not routinely pruned. Falling limbs damage all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and even 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 you have to do and help prevent overflow into your yard. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the work to a roofer or gutter cleaning company in Huntington Beach.

Have 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 such as rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a roofing company will let you know if there’s an issue that should be resolved.

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 applying these coatings 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 good condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation problem. Lack of ventilation will cause trapped moisture. This can quickly cause mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors inside of your house. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will eat away at wood and other materials, damaging your home’s structure.

ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE

From time to time, you’ll want 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 a year to prevent damages and keep your roof looking nice:

Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof removes debris, mold and dirt. This will reduce the risk of pests and rodents building nests on your roof, and it will freshen up the appearance of your home. Huntington Beach Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Huntington Beach as one of our services.

Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out rain gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your gutters often, especially while it’s raining, to observe if there are clogs that have to be removed. Most pros recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring months and again in the fall.

Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it probably means that your roof is too shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots can attach to roof shingles and other types of materials and damage them if it isn’t removed fast enough. Typically homeowners prefer to have a professional do this so no damage is done in the process.

MINOR ROOF REPAIRS

Damages will happen, but as long as you tend to them quickly, no serious problems should occur. If you are a capable handyman, you might feel confident doing small roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies in Huntington Beach are trained to complete 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 knocked off the shingles by debris, hail or heavy rain. These asphalt pieces help 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 below. Only a section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is 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 also need 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 gaps on the roof where it is difficult to place roofing material. It’s the perfect location for leaks, and it is easily damaged. If more complicated work is necessary, replacing the flashing is also a simple 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 likely only have to replace it once or twice. Of course, if you move several times, you might end up buying quite a few roofs during your lifetime.

When purchasing a new house, a roof inspection is definitely worth your time. You can also 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 house, give Huntington Beach Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Huntington Beach to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.