The roof is an essential part of any building which faces it’s fair share of wear and tear each day. Installing a good-quality roof can be an expensive investment, but you can make it last for years with the right approach to maintenance. You can consider hiring commercial roofing contractors to install or replace the roof.
Millions of people replace their roofs every year, either because their roofs have reached the end of their lifespan or because the extreme weather conditions took a heavy toll on them. So, to avoid replacing them sooner rather than later, we have jotted down several maintenance tips to prevent roof damage.
Read ahead –
1. Types of material –
The material used for roofing greatly impacts the roof’s average lifespan.
Consider the following –
Asphalt shingles – 18 to 30 years
Wood shakes – 14 to 20 years
Foam roofs – 10 to 15 years (if coated – then 30 years)
Steel, Tile and Slate – 50 years or more.
2. Material Quality
The lifespan of your roof highly depends on the quality of materials and there are many variations to choose from.It is always recommended to choose roofing materials of superior quality so you can enjoy your roof without worrying about replacing it before they reach the end of their lifespan.
There are also other factors that play a significant role in decreasing the longevity of roofs, such as: sun exposure, weather and climate, slope of the roof and also maintenance intervals.
10 Tips To Increase The Lifespan Of Your Roof
Once the roof is installed, roof maintenance is of utmost importance so that it can last for several decades.
Below, we’ve listed 10 tips you should follow to increase the lifespan of your roof!
Read ahead to know more.
1. Follow Cleaning Routine
Regular roof cleaning is very important. Due to the collection of debris and dirt, the roof retains the moisture and if the roof is made up of wood, it stimulates moss growth which damages the roofing material.
Hence, it is advisable to get the roof inspected by the professionals once in a year in order to prevent substantial damage.
2. Trim Trees
During windstorms, trees with overhanging branches can break off and cause damage to your roof. These branches also allow small animals like squirrels to access your roof easily where they climb, jump and damage the rooftop.
To extend your roof’s lifespan, you should trim trees at regular intervals.
3. Remove Leaves
Once the leaves start accumulating on your rooftop, it will trap moisture – causing trivial damage. Hence, it is important to regularly clean off leaves, broken stems and accumulated dirt off your roof.
4. Check Ice Dams
Ice puts up an extra weight on your roof as well as it prevents water from draining. If ice dams or snow are not removed on time it can cause damage to the shingles, initiate leakage and can result in roof collapse.
You can use roof rake or water to dislodge ice from your roof. But if there are large ice hunks, taking professional help is recommended.
5. Remove Molds
Look out for signs of mold infestation to enhance the lifespan of your roof. During the rainy season, if the water retains underneath the shingles it stimulates the growth of the mold. Fungi eats up the roof, leading to premature deterioration. It happens especially when the roof is in shade.
6. Keep The Gutters Clean
Gutters get blocked if leaves are accumulated, hindering water from flowing away from your roof. This blockage may lead to roof damage especially areas like lower deck boards. It is imperative to clean gutters after every fall and spring to stave off rot.
7. Get The Roof Inspected By Professionals
Though, you can look for the damage yourself but contacting a professional roofing company can help you show the exact state of your roof. Professionals can spot a minor issue with your roof as they know exactly what to look for and fix it before it becomes an expensive one. Further preventing more damage and extensive repairs or new roof installation.
8. Perpetuate Proper Insulation
Want to avoid your roof’s aging? Insulate your home properly!
Insulation needs proper ventilation to do its job. If the home has proper ventilation and all the air vents are in proper working condition hot air stays out and reflects the sunlight away.
If your house lacks proper insulation, your roof gets exposed to heat leading to quick deterioration.
9. Regularly Check For Damage
Regularly checking the roof helps in sustaining the roof for a longer time. Especially after a windstorm or rain, you should definitely take a round and scan if there are any loose, missing or curling shingles and if the flashing around the chimneys and vents are intact. Do look for dips in the roof, it could be the sign of leakage.
10. Replace Old Shingles
At times roofing shingles may break due to harsh weather or improper installation. While scanning if you spot any missing or cracked shingle, get the entire roof inspected by the professional roofing company. This would help in getting timely repairs done. Moreover, it will rescue you from getting into major expenses.
To wrap up, whether commercial roofing or residential roofing, new or freshly installed; entrusting roofing services to an experienced roofer safeguards both the roof as well as it’s owners.
We hope these tips come in handy the next time you’re stuck with how to get started with roof maintenance.
Happy roofing!