How to extend the life of your roof?

Do you know a good roof could be the single most significant investment a home owner can make? Although, depending on the roof type and those who install it, it could cost a lot of money. In this article, several fantastic tips will help you keep your roof perfect. Also, you will have deep insights into roof cleaning and its importance.

However, before shinning some light on roof maintenance, let’s see the different kinds of roofs. Some of the most common roofs are Asphalt Shingles, Ceramic roofing tiles, Slate roof shingles, wood shakes and cedar shingles, and metal roofing. Please note that there are so many other types of roofs, but these are the most common.

Understanding the common types of Roof.

To maintain each of these roof types, you need to know a about them. For Asphalt Shingles, the roof is conventional because it's easy to install, and it's also economical. It's a type of roof shingle that makes use of Asphalt. Thanks to its properties, the roof is waterproof. Moreover, this roof has two different types of material. The basic types of Asphalt materials are organic and fiberglass. As fundamental as this may seem, it determines maintenance. The same applies to the ceramic roofing shingles, wood shakes, cedar shingles, slate wood shingles, and metal roofing. Without knowing what they are made of, you might have a tough time trying to maintain them. For instance, you may need to clean a wooden roof in a slightly different way to an asphalt roof. However, I will give a general idea of standard methods to maintain all roof types.

What are the common causes of damage to a roof?

Just as it's helpful to know the roof types, it's vital to understand the causes of damage. When you have an idea of the common causes of damage, you'd surprisingly come up with maintenance techniques yourself. However, it's okay if you don't, this article will give direct maintenance tips. Without further ado, here are the causes of damage to a roof:

Biological growth:

This is very common in wooden roof types. It might seem surprising, but it's caused by roof exposure. For instance, you might see the growth of blue-algae, trees, or even plant debris.

Inconsistent maintenance or repairs:

Obviously, a roof that is not maintained will not last long. Just like two plus two adds up to four, you can expect damages on your roof when it is not maintained. It’s logical!

Switch or change in building’s purpose:

When there’s a change, there’s a high tendency of imbalanced ventilation and increased humidity. Interestingly, imbalanced ventilation can damage a roof over time.

Exposure to weather elements (rain, snow, sunlight, hail, wind):

When we talk about roofs, we talk about exposure alongside. Ironically, the roof protects us from what damages it, what a sacrifice? On a more serious note, these weather elements can cause breakage and then leakage.

Poor installation technique:

There are so many roofing companies with different levels of expertise. So, this is why you need to be sure of who you're hiring. When a roof is installed wrongly, there's every tendency that the roof doesn't last. However, if you've decided to install a roof yourself, then you should do it properly. Make sure you start with a complete tear-off, then install the drip edge. After that, install dedicated starter shingles, and then the dedicated hip and ridge shingles. Please note that you have to master roof installation before a DIY adventure.

Ways to maintain your roof?

Keep the roof clean.

Cleanliness is vital. For you to maintain anything, the first line of action is to keep it clean. As we all know, dirt can cause damage. Don't worry; this doesn't require you climbing to your roof like a pro. All you need to do is clean where the dirt accumulates. Where does the dirt accumulate? For well-installed roofs, the debris always gathers in the gutters.

The siding structure of most roofs prevents the dirt from accumulating on the top. Over time, gutters get very dirty and clogged gutters overflow. When there's an overflow, it causes severe damages. For instance, the connecting boards, window frame, and trim and fascia may damage over time. Please note that I mentioned the 'window frame' even though it's not part of the roof. Intentionally, I decided to show you that a poorly maintained roof can cause additional damages.

Keeping Tabs

If I were to invent a roof maintenance slogan, it'd be, "always keep tabs!" Why is it so important? Well, for starters, it makes you know the state of your roof. However, you can keep tabs in several ways. For instance, after heavy rainfall, you can go ahead and check it out. I'd advise that if you cannot climb the roof, please don't. Instead, you can make use of your binoculars. To keep tabs on your roof, check for breakages, curling shingles, or other damages.

Another way of keeping tabs is by inspection; it means consulting the experts. Although the inspection is not cheap, it is worth it. Once every two or three years, it's advisable to get professional help. Over time, you'd discover that the inspection will save you from the cost of damage.

Kill Moss and Mold

Earlier in this article, I pointed out that the damages that biological growth can incur. Moss and mold hold moisture and also damage anything they infest. Over time, when moss remains on your roof, there will be slow and gradual damage. Understandably, people love the green touch moss gives the roof. However, the damage is much more costly.

Trim Nearby Branches

As easy as this may sound, it can be very costly not to trim tree branches. When tree branches fall on a roof, it causes breakages. Also, fallen tree branches allow for moisture underneath, which ultimately is leads to total damage. To avoid this, before a tree branch falls, trim it quickly. Managing surrounding trees will prevent severe accidents.

In Summary

To extend the lifespan of your roof, understanding the roof type will be helpful. However, it's also essential to know the causes of the damages. Understanding what leads to a bad roof will help you understand how to maintain them. Overall, taking steps to keep your roof clean can increase its lifespan by over five years.  For roof cleaning and maintenance, North American Exterior Cleaning offers the very best cleaning services. If you need services like window cleaning, concrete washing, gutter cleaning, home exterior soft wash, or pool deck washing, contact North American Exterior Cleaning. Other services offered include washing solar panels, graffiti removal, and rust removal.