While every roof needs to be replaced eventually, neglect will cause it to require repair or replacement years ahead of schedule. The solution is proactive maintenance that will extend the life of your roof, allowing it to last up to 25 years. Here are five essential roof maintenance tips that will extend its life and in the end save you a lot of money.
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Perform Regular Inspection
Home owners are advised to make an inspection of their roof at least twice a year. During spring and fall, look for warning signs like missing shingles, exposed or missing fasteners, damaged drip edges, sagging gutters, and damaged flashing. These problems suggest that minor repairs are in order, but you should have a professional determine if a more serious repair is needed. After a major storm, inspect your roof again. Look for missing shingles, damaged flashing or any other openings in the roof. Then get problems repaired as soon as possible.
Clean Your Gutters
Your gutters should be cleaned several times a year, whether you do it or have an expert do it. This is a critical task before a big storm. You also need to do it so that water doesn’t get backed up in the gutters and end up seeping into your roof and walls. When that happens, the structural members of the roof and walls will rot.
Soft Washing Your Roof
Various contaminants will destroy your roof if allowed to stay there, never mind how dirt and debris sitting on the surface makes it look bad. Leaving dirt on the roof gives mold, fungus and other things the conditions they need to start growing.
For example, fire moss growing on your roof will eventually lift up the shingles and let water in underneath. You don’t want to run a high pressure power washer on the roof to remove this debris, since it can damage the roof, too. In fact, high pressure washes can negate your roof warranty. The solution is to use soft washing instead.
Look for a reputable company that offers soft washing La Crosse WI to clean your roof for you. Their soft wash will remove any mold and algae that is breaking down your roof without damaging the structural elements. It will kill bacteria and remove dirt, yet it won’t even hurt any plants growing around your home. This is because soft washing is eco friendly as well as effective.
Trim Your Trees
Trim the trees around your home so that tree branches won’t crash into your home during a storm. Prevent heavy branches from growing over the roof, since these could punch a hole in the roof if the branch is broken. As a side benefit, this will limit how much shade your roof receives and the ability of moss to grow there. And, trimming back tree branches prevents the leaves from the trees falling on the roof and clogging your gutters.
Check Your Insulation
Check the insulation inside your attic. Proper insulation and ventilation can prevent ice dams from forming, limiting their potential for damaging your roof in the winter. Air leaks and insufficient insulation increases the odds of them forming. And, it is easier to add more insulation to your attic after sealing holes in the roof than climbing up on a ladder to scrape ice off the roof regularly.
Conclusion
A new roof can be expensive and should be seen as a long term investment. This is why taking proactive steps to make the one you already have last as long as possible is always worth the effort.
