4 Shingle Roofing Maintenance Tips For A Longer Roof Life

A new shingle roof can serve you for up to 30 years. However, if you’re going to get full service from your roof, you need to take good care of it. It may seem like too much effort, but it will save you thousands of dollars in costly premature roof replacement. Here are four tips to help you keep your shingle roof in tip-top shape as long as possible:

1. Keep it clean

Leaves, twigs and other types of trash are easy to ignore, but they often soak up water that can cause serious damage to your shingles. Your roof should be preventing water from getting into your home, so you don’t want to make this job any harder than it needs to be. Consistently cleaning your gutters to prevent clogs is particularly important for this:

Gutters that clog up can cause a lot of damage to your roof. The reason for this is that water accumulating on gutters can easily make its way underneath your roofing structure. By keeping your gutters clean and in good repair, you ensure they can serve their intended purpose, alleviating any immediate dangers to your roof in the process. Via Redfin

Cleaning roof shingles can be quite tricky because you want to avoid damaging them. Power washing is not recommended because the force of the water may be too much for the shingles and cause damage. Here is a helpful post on how to clean your shingle roof:

3 Steps For Cleaning And Maintaining Your Shingle Roof Without Damaging It

If you have an asphalt shingle roof, part of the maintenance is cleaning the roof. This can be done with a light detergent, broom and garden hose. The shingles have granules on them, which protect your roof. You want to be careful not to damage the shingles when you are doing cleaning maintenance. Here are some tips to help you with cleaning your roof and avoid damaging the shingles. Read full post...

2. Pay attention

Roof damage takes place over a long period, so by the time you experience a leak or other effect, you can be sure it’s been a long time coming. Checking your roof for signs of damage on a regular basis is therefore really important if you’re going to pick up on any problems before they become costly.

Perform regular roof inspections Whether you hire a pro or do it yourself, this is a smart move that can head off issues before they become a real problem. You should look for damage when the seasons change or after any major storms. Watch out for signs of insect or animal activity, missing, damaged, or curling shingles. You should also keep an eye out for fungus or algae growth as well as rust. Look for shingle pieces on the ground after storms as well, and be sure to look in the attic for leaks... Inspect and repair seals, joints, and flashing These are the most frequent spots for leaks and should be regularly inspected for damage. Flashing covers entry points into your roof including the vents, exhaust pipe, and chimney, and it’s often a hotspot for leaks. Look for bending or even punctures, as well as dried out or loose sealant. Via Choice Home Warranty

3. Trim the surrounding trees

Trees that grow too close to your house can pose a risk for your roof. Limbs that break off and fall on the roof could damage the shingles, while limbs that hang over or rest on the shingles could scrape away their protective coating. This would definitely shorten your roof’s life.

Trim Overhanging Branches As you go about routinely inspecting your roof, be on the lookout for trees that are growing near your home. If there are branches hanging too closely to or directly above your roof, they need trimming. The reason is that falling leaves will collect on the roof, retain moisture and then start to rot your tiles, making them much weaker. If this remains unsolved for a long time, it may result in even more damage to the entire roofing structure. Via Redfin

4. Watch out for pests

[caption id="attachment_6943" align="aligncenter" width="531"] Image Courtesy of Wikimedia[/caption] All sorts of animals will want to make their home on or under your roof – squirrels, raccoons, chipmunks and even birds. Not only will they damage the roof, but any pre-existing damage will be multiplied, increasing your roof repair costs. Insects like termites or carpenter ants can also cause major damage, so look out for insect feces, shredded wood, soft spots and sawdust as they indicate infestation.

Do not allow pests to live in your roof If you see signs of small animals, termites, or other pests, take steps to remove them immediately. They can cause serious damage to your roof as they chew and use materials to make their home. Via Choice Home Warranty

If you would like more information or require roof repair services in Loudon County, please contact us today. Featured Image: Image Credit  

The following post 4 Shingle Roofing Maintenance Tips For A Longer Roof Life {is available on Roof.net