Your roof is one of the most important parts of your home. It protects you, your family, and the rest of your home from the outside elements. And, being from mid-Missouri, you know that sometimes mother nature is unforgiving. Human ingenuity has made leaps and bounds in the roofing industry, though. In fact, depending on the type of roof that you have, your roof can last from 25 years (asphalt shingles) to 50+ years (metal shingles). Of course there are other factors like storms that can shorten that time frame, but overall your roof can last quite a long time. But, proper roof maintenance can make a big difference in how long your roof can last.
Roof Maintenance Tips
Maintaining your roof can help combat mother nature and keep your roof strong for years to come. With 12+ years of experience in the mid-Missouri roofing industry, we’ve seen the effects that poor maintenance (or lack of maintenance completely) can cause. So we decided to put together a list of some tips and tricks to help your roof.
Pay attention
Before a catastrophic roof failure occurs there are typically warning signs. Paying attention to your roof and looking for those warning signs could result in a simple (and cost effective) repair instead of a full roof replacement. Or at least a cheaper complete replacement. Some of the warning signs that could be fixed before a full roof replacement include:
- Missing shingles or shingles that are lifting up off of the roof
- Missing fasteners
- Piles of granules. This would be a pile of little pieces of asphalt.
- Damaged, missing, or loose pieces of flashing. The flashing is the metal pieces that help seal water prone areas on your roof. Typically around a chimney, around skylights and stack vents, etc.
- Damaged drip edge. Drip edging is similar to flashing. It is a metal piece that goes on both the eave sides and gable sides of the roof to prevent rot and moisture from getting to the roof wood.
Moss & Algae
Moss and algae won’t necessarily ruin your roof. In fact, it is typically harmless which we address in our roofing FAQ section. But the algae doesn’t look good and it’s always better to be safe than sorry and keep your roof clean. Cleaning moss and algae from a roof is a pretty simple process. To start, make sure you are wearing some protective clothing and cover any decorative plants around the house.
Mix a solution of 50% water and 50% bleach and spray the roof with the mixture. Let the bleach sit on the moss and/or algae for 15 – 20 minutes. After the 15 – 20 minutes you can rinse the mixture off with a low pressure hose (your garden hose should do the trick).
Keep in mind that some roofing shingle manufacturers may have special methods for cleaning moss and/or algae off of the shingles. Also, some manufacturers may offer warranties against this. As a Certified CertainTeed Shingle Master we offer a selection of asphalt shingles that have a 10-year limited warranty against algae.
Keep your trees trimmed
Trees are an important part of our ecosystem. They recycle air, provide shade, and show the true beauty of nature. But, they can also cause issues with your roof. Keeping trees trimmed can help ensure your roof is protected from the dangers of falling limbs. One good storm and a broken limb an you might end up with a hole in your roof.
If it looks like your tree is starting to cover parts of your roof, it may be time to reach out to your local tree care company to discuss what options you have available. We recommend finding a reputable local company that has proper insurance to perform your tree care needs.
Insulation and Caulking
When most people think about insulation in their attic, they just consider the warmth of the inside of the home. Attic insulation does provide an extra layer of warmth during the winter. Plus, it can really help with utility bills. But, attic insulation plays another important role in home protection and can directly affect the longevity of your roof. Proper insulation, combined with proper ventilation in your attic can prevent ice dams on your roof.
An ice dam is what happens when ice forms on the edge of a roof. That ice prevents melting snow (water) from draining off the roof, causing the water to pool on top of the roof. The pool of water can begin to leak into the home and cause damage to the roof itself, walls, ceilings, insulation, and other areas.
During the roofing process one of the key steps is to apply flashing around weak spots in the roof. This is typically around air vents, chimneys, etc. If the proper roof caulking wasn’t used, or it has been exposed to an unusual amount of tough weather, that caulking can be worn down and begin to leak. If it starts to leak real damage can occur that may require a full roof replacement.
To help prevent unnecessary damage from occurring, it’s a good idea to monitor the quality of the caulk and replace it when needed. If you think your caulking should be inspected or replaced, contact our team of experts and we can help. A simple caulking job can go a long way and help prevent the need for a roofing placement for years to come.
Keeping your roof well maintained can greatly increase the longevity of the roof. Your roof plays a critical role in the safety of you, your family, and your home. With that being said, sometimes maintenance isn’t enough. Shingles get old and storms can cause a lot of damage. If you think your roof might be beyond maintenance, or your not quite sure what your next step should be, our expert roofing contractors are here to help. As part of the Expert Roofing & Exteriors commitment to our customers, we will never recommend anything we don’t believe you need to keep your home safe. If you’ve got questions you can request your free quote by giving us a call at (573) 567-3177 or by using this contact form.
