It is not uncommon to find that a house’s roof can age well if taken care of, sometimes even in comparison to other aspects like tiling or plumbing to keep your heat lamp safe. That being said a roof is an external feature that undergoes a lot of wear and tears as well as environmental bombardment from rain, snow, and sunlight to hail and accumulation of organic matter like dirt and leaves.
If a roof is not properly maintained and inspected periodically, it can get loose shingles, start breaking off and allow water to seep into the structure or cause other long-lasting damage that may not be repairable. If you’ve invested a small fortune in your roof installation, here are some steps to make sure it lasts as long as it possibly can.
Have Scheduled Cleanings & Inspections
A roof is just like any other belonging or even a piece of machinery; it requires regular and diligent upkeep in order to stay in good condition. Do seasonal checks of your roof as warmer and colder weather both have different effects on the roofing materials. In the warmer, more humid months the shingle may expand (especially if it is wood or terracotta) and the colder months could result in more rain or snow that damages the top layer resulting in cracks, etc.
If you need any major roof repair done, opt for spring or fall so that rain or other adverse weather conditions do not interrupt the work. For this reason, seasonal inspections work very well because they help you schedule repairs and also take proper precautions if there is going to be any discrepancy with the weather.
During inspections, you can schedule a deep clean a couple of times a year to clear out foliage, growth, organic matter, and other debris from the surface of the roof, the downspouts, and the gutters which will ultimately help water drain more effectively too resulting in less mold and seepage in your house walls.
Repair On Time To Save On Replacements
While repairing as soon as you see something amiss may seem to cost you on a regular basis or quarterly, it can be far more costly to leave a repair job undone which ultimately will require a full-blown replacement. Have a roofing contractor evaluate the state of your roof and make repairs as soon as they are apparent such as a couple of loose or cracked shingles. This will ensure the longevity of your roof over many years and seasonal changes.
In general, you should keep an eye out for loose roofing shingles that seem like they may fall off, water leakage, the residue of shingle granules on the roof that indicates damage, detached drainage pipes, holes in the shingles that allow debris and water to seep through and considerable algae and plant growth. All of the above mentioned instances can be the precursor to costly repairs so they are better identified early on and treated before they can start affecting the ceiling from inside, the walls, or the attic.
