Nobody wants to replace their roof if they don’t have to. Roof replacement is not only expensive, it’s a disruption to your day-to-day life. Fortunately, if you keep your roof in good condition, it should last two to three decades. In fact, there are several things that you can do in order to extend the life of your roof as long as possible. The following are a few things you should do to extend your roof’s lifespan:
During a professional inspection, your roof’s condition will be carefully evaluated. Professional inspectors will look for any damage or wear and tear that has occurred as well as for any vulnerable spots. They can then make repairs that will prevent any minor issues that they found from growing into major problems that could contribute to the need to replace your roof in the future.
Regular gutter cleanings will help prevent clogs from occurring. If your gutters get clogged, then rainwater will build up, which will eventually leak in through your roof, causing water damage to your lower deck board in addition to the soffit boards and fascia located along the gutter line.
Having debris cleaned from the roof, such as leaves or tree branches, will help prevent damage from occurring to your roof’s shingles. The presence of leaves and branches can also result in algae growth, which can penetrate your roof over time, causing damage to not only your shingles but the underlayment as well. Just make sure that you hire a professional to clean your roof – attempting to do so yourself will pose a safety risk not worth taking.
Proper ventilation is essential to the health of your roof. Without proper ventilation, your roof will absorb heat, which will become trapped in your attic. This can cause your shingles to decay more quickly and can lead to a buildup of moisture in your attic, which in turn can cause the rafters to warp and crack.
It can also cause problems in the winters as the heat and moisture produced in your house rise up into the attic. Without ventilation, it will remain in the attic, where it can cause ice dams. This occurs when the heat in your attic melts a layer of snow on your roof, which has nowhere to go because it’s trapped by the ice or snow above it, causing it to melt and leak in through the roof.
According to the FHA (Federal Housing Administration), you should have at least one square foot of attic ventilation for every 300 square feet of space in your attic.
Making sure that your attic is properly insulated provides a number of benefits to homeowners. First of all, it will help keep heat from rising out of your home, which means you’ll help keep your energy costs down during the winter seasons. Secondly, by keeping heat from rising up into your attic, you’ll help prevent ice dams from forming on the roof, thereby preventing potential water damage.
Considering the costs of a roof replacement, not to mention the disturbance of having a roof replaced, you’ll want to keep your existing roof for as long as possible. These are just a few of the ways that you can help to extend the life of your roof. If your roof is in need of repair or you are in need of a roof replacement, then be sure to contact us at All-Nu Construction in Toledo, OH, today.