7 Tips to Extend Your Roof’s Lifespan
The roof plays a vital role in protecting your home, so you want it to serve you for a long time. Additionally, a good roof is an essential requirement if you want to sell your home for a good price in the future. Depending on the material, the average lifespan of a roof is 20-50 years. A well-maintained roof will remain on the higher average of its lifespan.
Read on to discover seven tips to extend your roof’s lifespan.
1. Kill Off Mold
The first step to extend your roof’s lifespan is to clear mold. Mold will eat into your roof’s surface, slowly causing wear and tear. Although this won’t make your roof collapse in a day, it will affect its structural integrity and result in eventual damage.
Look out for signs of mold infestation, such as musty smells and leakages, and kill off mold using an enzyme cleaner.
2. Remove Leaves and Debris
Moisture can accumulate on leaf piles, eventually causing water damage to your roof. On the other hand, debris may scratch your roof due to high winds. The scratches may become weak points that eventually crack, causing leaks. Clean out any leaves and debris that may pile on your roof to avoid roof damage.3. Trim Overhanging Branches
Trimming your trees is another important step in roof maintenance. Overhanging tree branches scratch a roof’s surface, damaging its waterproof properties. The branches may also break off during storms and cause impact damage to your roof. Additionally, branches shed leaves on the roof, which may cause water damage, as discussed earlier.Squirrels and other small animals can also access your roof through overhanging branches and cause damage. Trees branches may also shade your roof from the sun, encouraging moisture accumulation, which leads to mold growth.
4. Regularly Unclog Your Gutters
Gutters direct water away from the roof, so when they are blocked, serious damage may follow. Leaves and debris may accumulate on your gutters, causing blockages. When this happens, water will not flow from the roof properly, causing damage to other areas, such as the lower deck board. Pooled water on the roof may also cause rot on your shingles, which compromises your roof’s sturdiness.Mold, leaks, and mildew are other problems caused by clogged gutters. Always ensure your gutters are free of blockages to avoid these problems.
5. Schedule Regular Roof Inspections
You should schedule regular roof inspections by a professional to identify any damage to your roof that you may have overlooked. This will help you identify and solve small issues before they cause extensive roof damage. Have your roofing contractor check for undetected leaks, shingle damage, sagging, damaged roof supports, weak spots, rot, and cracks.You should also schedule roof inspections after extreme weather like hurricanes and hail storms and before winter.
6. Replace Damaged or Missing Shingles
Roofing shingles can break from impact, exposure to harsh weather, or improper installation. Damaged shingles may eventually fall off or be blown away by strong winds. When this happens, water starts to pass through the gaps left, damaging the protective membrane underneath the roof. To avoid further roof damage, have a roofing contractor replace damaged or missing shingles immediately.7. Hire a Roofing Contactor
Hiring a qualified roofing contractor to do your roof installation, repairs, or replacement is the best thing you can do to preserve your roof. Look for a certified roofing company with experienced roofers to do your initial roof installation and subsequent maintenance work.If you need an experienced roofing contractor for your roof installation and maintenance needs, Ray’s Harford Home Improvement Contractors have 62 years in the roofing business. We offer roofing services guaranteed to make your roof last. Contact us today to get free estimates.
