Statistics show that an average homeowner in the USA spends around $9117 on a home roof. So, every homeowner needs to learn to care for the roof, extend its lifespan, and prevent major expenses any time soon.
Moreover, good maintenance also helps in good curb appeal. So, if you ever want to sell your house, you’ll also get great value.
If you’re wondering how to do this, follow this guide!
Always Keep The Roof Clean
Your roof catches debris from fallen leaves, sticks and branches, dust, water, and more. All that can lead to algae, moss, mold, and mildew growth – a disastrous recipe for your roof lifespan!
To prevent that, you must regularly clean your rooftop. You can do it yourself if you have a sturdy ladder and are careful.
Conduct manual clean-up or go for special chemicals. For this, you need an enzyme cleaner from the hardware store. Attach that to your hose and spray it over your roof. Let it sit for a day and rinse. Or let it wash away with rain.
Never power-wash shingles; the top coating may become loose and damage the shingle.
However, to ensure top-notch maintenance, seek a professional. Especially if you reside in California, appoint the best roofing company Los Angeles. They’ll inspect your roof, provide you with an estimate, and take care of everything once everything’s agreed upon!
Maintain The Gutters
Regular gutter cleaning prevents water buildup, which also causes leaks and algae growth. If the gutter is severely blocked or damaged, repair them by professionals. Don’t delay this; it keeps the water flowing away, preventing it from sitting on your roof and damaging your shingles.
Take Care Of The Shingles
Check for damaged and missing roof shingles, especially if your locality faces frequent heavy snowstorms and winds. Missing, loose, or curled shingles can cause leaks, mold, and mildew in your home interior.
This may also spike your energy bills, and heating/cooling systems won’t work efficiently. So, repair or replace shingles whenever needed.
Avoid Getting Ice Dams
When an ice ridge forms on the lower side of your roof slope, it forms ice dams. They prevent the melting snow from being drained through the gutters.
Ice deposits on your gutters block the water drainage system, cause water accumulation and leaks, and dampen your ceiling. Perform a pre-winter clean-up and winterize the roof to avoid ice dams. Ensure all areas under the roof – ridges and eaves – have proper airflow.
Insulate Ceilings & Attics
With poor insulation, you’ll have higher energy bills and damage your roof. If there’s snow or ice on your roof, the conducted heat melts it. It later freezes again at the roof’s edge and causes ice dams. The moisture then seeps through nail holes and ruins the decking.
So, check whether your ceiling and attic are well-insulated. If it’s not, connect with professionals for attic and ceiling insulation.
Maintain Ventilation
There are some poking pipes and raised vents on your roof. These are parts of your ventilation systems. Warm air escapes your attic through roof vents and ensures proper air circulation. Proper ventilation prevents moisture and ice dam troubles.
To ensure proper ventilation, follow these:
- Check whether the exhaust fans are placed properly
- Vents must not be blocked
- Humidity must be under control
- Maintain HVAC systems
- Open the windows whenever the weather allows.
Regularly Apply Protective Coating & Sealants
You can also extend your roof lifespan by treating it with special protective sealant and coating it right after the new roof installation. These are primarily essential for metal, slate, and stone roofs.
Focus the sealant and coating on the decking. You can also use ring shank nails and wind-resistant ribbing. Lastly, you can lock the edges of the roof with metal flashing. Make sure you get the process done by a professional and get it retouched every few years.
Trim All Nearby Trees
Some have trees near their homes or climbers and crawlers all over their houses for aesthetic purposes. However, this can ridiculously affect your roof lifespan. The fallen leaves, twigs, and even dried parts of the crawler may cause debris to collect on your roof.
So, trim the tree leaves and branches that are near your home. Get the crawling plants off your home walls and roof and change their direction of growth. You can also hire a trimmer and gardener for this.
Conclusion
With the help of reputable professionals, follow these simple steps. And your roof will provide you with the worth of your investment!
