How to Extend Your Roof’s Lifespan

The roof is one of the most important features of your home’s exterior, making it necessary to provide a high level of care to it to extend its lifespan. The quality of the roof will determine how long it lasts and if it’s prone to needing frequent repairs. If you want to learn how to extend its lifespan and make it last longer, there are a few important tips to follow that will prove to be effective.

Perform Inspections

Hire a reputable roofer to perform thorough inspections on the roof every six months to look for areas that need repairs. It’s especially important to perform an inspection after a storm or high winds when the roof is most vulnerable. If it’s storm season, hire a professional to perform the inspection because hail damage can be difficult to spot on your own.

If you need a routine inspection, you can also look for repairs by using binoculars to check for missing shingles or any spots where the roof deck is exposed. A roofing contractor or a company like KNS Remodeling will also be able to perform an inspection to determine the condition of the roof and when it should be replaced.

Make it a point to perform repairs sooner rather than later to prevent them from escalating over time. If you’re performing repairs on a frequent basis, then it’s a sign that the roof is no longer protecting the building from the outside elements and needs to be replaced.

Ventilate the Attic

One of the main mistakes many people make when caring for their roof is not having proper ventilation in the attic. When the space gets too warm during the summer months, it can cause the roof to become hot, which can cause the shingles to fall off when they start to become brittle and dry. If the attic isn’t ventilated, it can cause the interior to reach 160 degrees on some days. Install vents and fans to reduce the temperature in the space and keep the air circulating.

It’s also necessary to maintain proper ventilation to prevent the attic from getting too cold during the winter season. Installing new insulation can reduce your energy usage and also allow the roof to to avoid unnecessary wear throughout the year. Insulation only works as it’s intended if soffit vents are present towards the lower part of the attic, along with a few vents towards the top of the attic. The vents will allow hot air to escape the building while cool air enters the attic.

Clean the Roof

Just like other areas on the property, the roof needs a thorough cleaning to remove excess grime and dirt that accumulates throughout the season. Hire a professional to powerwash the materials to prevent mold and moss from forming, which can lead to damage and excess wear. Avoid cleaning the roof yourself, which can make it easy to apply too much pressure and will lead to some of the granules on the asphalt shingles to fall off. Remove any leaves that may accumulate, which can trap moisture and lead to mildew.

It’s also necessary to keep the gutters clean and remove any build-up of leaves and debris that accumulate. If the gutters become clogged, it can cause rain to become backed up on top of the house, which can lead to damage on the deckboard when the water sits for too long on the roofing materials. Cleaning out the gutters every few weeks or months will also prevent animals or pests from making a home there.

Check for Leaks

Leaks may seem like a minor issue but can put your home at risk of mold while also causing significant damage to the materials on the building. Access the attic and the roof boards and use a flashlight to check for signs of water damage. You can also hose off the roof and inspect the roof boards for areas where water is leaking through to get an idea if repairs are needed. You can hire a professional to perform roof repair, who will add roofing cement underneath the shingle to prevent the problem from escalating.

Trim Nearby Trees

Any trees that are in proximity to the roof can cause damage the next time there’s high winds or a heavy storm. Trim the branches to prevent them from puncturing the roof and damaging the roofing materials. Larger branches can also fall off during a storm and lead to damage on the building. Trimming any nearby trees will also prevent animals and critters from having access to the roof.

Remove Snow

Snow may seem harmful, but it can add a lot of weight to the roof when it starts to pile up. The snow can also start to freeze and form ice dams after a few hours. Use a roof rake to gently remove the snow and start from the bottom of the roof up. Removing the snow will prevent it from sitting too long on the buildings, which can lead to damage.

Knowing the best ways to care for your roof and maintain the materials is essential to extending it’s lifespan. As a homeowner, you can have peace of mind knowing your house as the protection it needs each season and won’t need to be be replaced as soon. If you find your roof does have excessive damage, contact the team at KNS Remodeling for a quote on your roof replacement.