Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof will last 20-25 years, more or less depending on damage and natural wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials last longer, but they are also 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 play your cards right, you could end up only having to replace your roof once in your lifetime, just as long as you give it the attention it needs.
Roof replacement 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 in order to extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing abilities – or just hate the idea of climbing a tall ladder – you can find a licensed, certified roofer in Burbank to help you with all of your maintenance and repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing projects to prevent roof damage before it happens is the cheapest route to lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are some preventative care ideas for your home’s roof:
Cut branches that hang over your roof. Gusting winds and rain storms can break branches and even push over whole trees. Rotting, dying trees will also drop their heavy branches right onto your roof if they’re not regularly 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 over your gutters to reduce clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning you need to do and prevent overflow into your landscaping. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning service in Burbank.
Have regular 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 regular inspections done by a roofing pro will let you know if there’s a problem that has to be repaired.
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 products so you can feel safe about spraying these products on your home, where they will run off and possibly come in contact with your children, pets and landscaping.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation system are in good condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation problem. Limited ventilation will lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly result in mold and mildew growth, as well as odors throughout your house. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will eat away at wood and other home materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Every once in a while, you’ll want 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 materials it’s made from.
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 will remove 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 appearance of your home. Burbank Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Burbank as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out the gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your gutters often, especially if it’s raining, to observe if there are any clogs that need to be cleared. Most pros recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring months and again in the fall.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it likely means that your roof is shaded and stays very moist. Moss’s roots attach to shingles and other types of materials and ruin them if it isn’t gotten rid of fast enough. Typically homeowners decide 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 tend to them right away, no major problems should result. If you are a handyman, you may feel confident enough doing small repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofers in Burbank are more than willing 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 knocked off the shingles by debris, hail or strong rain. These asphalt pieces help 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 small section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is only superficial.
Replace fascia. Occasionally, 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 need to be replaced. The fascia can 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 impossible 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 also a simple task for professionals 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 between 20 and 30 years, you will likely only need to install a new one one or two times. Of course, if you move often, you could end up installing a lot of roofs in your lifetime.
When purchasing a new house, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can include the price of a new roof – if one is needed – in the closing costs or request that the home seller has the roof replaced before the sale. When selling a house, give Burbank Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Burbank to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.