Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof lasts 20 years, more or less depending on damage and wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials will 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 extend the time between new roof replacements. If you play your cards right, you might end up only having to install a new roof on your home once in your lifetime, as long as you give it the maintenance it needs.
Installing a new roof is very expensive no matter the type of roof you have. You’re a lot better off in the long run doing routine maintenance and minor repairs as needed in order to extend the lifetime of your roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing skills – or just can’t stand the idea of climbing a tall ladder – you can always call a licensed, certified roofer in Thousand Oaks to help you with all of your maintenance and repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing things to prevent roof damage before it occurs is by far the most affordable route to extend the lifetime of your roof. Here are a couple of preventative care ideas for your roof:
Cut tree branches that hang over your roof. High winds and rain storms can break tree branches and even push over whole trees. Rotting, dying trees can also drop their branches right onto your roof if they are not routinely pruned. Falling limbs ruin all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and 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 reduce the amount of gutter cleaning that you need to do and prevent overflow into your landscaping. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the work to a roofer or gutter cleaning service in Thousand Oaks.
Schedule regular inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after only a few years, and metal roofs can get dented or begin to show signs of age such as rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a roofing company can let you know if there’s an issue that should be repaired.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings renew the oils from shingles so they don’t dry out, helping your roof last 5 years or more beyond its expected lifespan. There are regular and plant-based products so you can feel safe about applying these products on your home, where they will run off and come in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation systems are in good condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation problem. Lack of ventilation can result in trapped moisture. This can quickly result in mold and mildew growth, as well as 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
Here and there, you’ll need to complete some general maintenance on your roof. If this is done regularly, you’ll prevent leaks and extend the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the materials it’s made of.
Do these chores 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 curb appeal. Thousand Oaks Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Thousand Oaks as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out rain gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your rain gutters regularly, especially if it’s raining, to observe if there are any clogs that should be cleared. Most companies recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall.
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 types of materials and damage them if it isn’t removed fast enough. Many homeowners prefer to have a professional service do this so no unnecessary damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages will happen, but as long as you take care of them right away, no major problems should occur. If you are a handyman, you may feel confident enough doing minor repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies in Thousand Oaks are trained 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. These asphalt chunks help protect your roof. If they start to come off, the roof will look worn, but, most importantly, it won’t protect what’s underneath. Only a section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is only superficial.
Replace fascia. Occasionally, the section of your 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 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 very easily damaged. If more complicated work is required, replacing the flashing is also a simple task for roofers 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 between 20 and 30 years, you will probably only need to install a new one once or twice. Of course, if you move several times, you might end up installing a lot of roofs during your lifetime.
When buying a new house, 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 seller has the roof replaced prior to the sale. When selling a house, give Thousand Oaks Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Thousand Oaks to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.