Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof will last 20-25 years, more or less depending on damage and usual wear and tear. Other roofing materials will last longer, but are also more expensive to install.
The amount and quality of care you give your roof can shorten or increase the time between new roof replacements. If you play your cards right, you might end up only having to install a new roof once in your lifetime, just as long as you give it the care it needs.
Installing a new roof is expensive no matter the type of roof. You’re a lot better off doing routine maintenance and small repairs as they arise to extend the lifetime of your roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing abilities – or just hate the thought of climbing up a tall ladder – you can always find a licensed, certified roofer in Bellevue to give you a hand with all of your maintenance and roof repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing tasks to prevent most roof damage before it occurs is by far the most affordable route to extend the lifetime of your roof. Here are a few preventative care projects for your roof:
Cut tree limbs that hang over your roof. Gusting winds and rain can break tree limbs and even knock over trees. Rotting, dying trees will also drop their branches right onto your roof if they are not regularly pruned. Falling limbs ruin 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 prevent overflow into your landscaping. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the work to a roofer or gutter cleaning company in Bellevue.
Schedule routine inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after only a few years, and metal roofs will be dented or begin to show signs of age like rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a company will let you know if there’s a problem that should be repaired.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings replenish the oils from roof 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 putting 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 systems are in good condition. Too much or not enough insulation can create a condensation issue. Lack of ventilation will lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as odors in your home. Besides being a nuisance, mold and mildew will ruin wood and other home materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Every once in a while, you’ll have 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 from.
Do these projects 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 renew the curb appeal. PNW Bellevue Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Bellevue as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your gutters regularly, especially while it’s raining, to see if there are clogs that need to be cleared. Most gutter experts recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it means that your roof is too shaded and stays very moist. Moss’s roots can attach to roof shingles and other materials and ruin them if it isn’t eliminated quickly. Most homeowners decide to have a professional do this so no unnecessary damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages happen, but as long as you tend to them quickly, no serious problems should occur. If you are a capable handyman, you may feel confident doing small roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofers in Bellevue are certified 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 chunks help protect your roof. If they start to come off, the roof will begin to look worn, but, more 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 part 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, allowing mold and mildew into your home, and sometimes pests.
Re-caulk around the flashings. Flashings fill in 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 easily damaged. If more complicated work is needed, replacing the flashing is also an easy 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 lifespan 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 frequently, you might end up installing quite a few roofs in your lifetime.
When purchasing a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your time. You can also include the price of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or request that the home seller has the roof replaced before the sale. When trying to sell a home, give PNW Bellevue Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Bellevue to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.