Roof Maintenance Tips: Extend Your Roof’s Lifespan

Roof Inspections, Repairs, and Maintenance Help Your Roof Last for Years to Come

When properly maintained, most shingle roofs will last at least 20 years. Some types will last even longer. No matter what kind of roof material you have on your home, you’ll have to do some work to keep it from needing extensive repair.

Inspect Your Shingles Regularly

Regular roof inspections should be part of your routine maintenance. Look at your roof from the ground and pay attention to how everything looks. This way, when you look up and notice something out of place, you know there’s a problem.

At least once a year, climb up on the roof to do a more thorough inspection of the shingles. Check for any that are loose, cracked, or missing.

Inspect Any Openings

If your home has openings for a chimney, skylights, or vents, pay close attention to those areas. These openings are sealed when the roof is installed, but over time, the sealant can wear away. This leaves your roof susceptible to water damage. Inspecting these areas makes it easier to catch a leak before extensive damage is done.

Remove Debris

Leaves and other debris will occasionally accumulate on your roof. You’ll want to clean up any debris on your roof. Pay attention to areas around openings on your roof because debris tends to build up there. The debris will prevent proper drainage. If water can’t freely flow from the roof, you’ll run into issues later, especially leaks.

Keep Your Gutters Clean

Speaking of drainage, your gutters work to help keep your roof in good condition. You’ll want to check your gutters for shingle debris. If you find a lot of shingle granules in the gutters, it means they are more susceptible to UV rays, which will cause them to crack. These cracks give water another way to get into your home and cause damage.

Regularly clean your gutters. If you let your gutters become clogged with leaves, dirt, twigs, and other debris, they will not be able to allow the water to drain away from the roof. The water damage can harm the roof, as well as other parts of your home, including the foundation.

Trim Branches

If you have any trees with low-hanging branches that are close to the roof, you should trim them. Branches that are too close to the roof have the potential to damage it. Even if there isn’t a storm to knock down the tree branches, they can still cause trouble. When the wind blows, the branches can easily scrape the shingles, and when left unattended for a long time, can weaken shingles in that area of the roof.

If you want to avoid an early home roof replacement, use these tips to keep everything in good shape. Visually inspecting your roof from the ground will only take a few minutes – and it’s something you can do nearly every time you leave the house. Climbing up for inspections and debris removal should occur twice a year, once in the spring and once again in the fall. Always check after any extreme weather events, too.

HomeGuard Roof Inspections Serving California from Sacramento to San Diego

HomeGuard Incorporated performs many thousands of termite, home, and roof inspections each year whether to provide insights as a property is bought and sold or for homeowners who simply want to get a better handle for planning expenses and maintaining their home. Order an inspection today or contact us for more information about how we can help you better understand your home’s condition and repair needs.