7 Simple Maintenance Tips to Extend Your Roof Lifespan

Regardless of if you are selling your home in the near future, your roof lifespan is something you should be thinking about. These 7 simple tips will help you improve the lifespan of your roof and keep your home safe.

The roof on your home is important for numerous reasons. It’s not only what protects you and your family from the elements, but it also is a rather large financial investment and can either add or detract from the value of your home. If you’re planning to sell your home at any point in the near or distant future, it’s important to extend your roof lifespan.

Consider the fact that roof replacements can be not only time consuming and inconvenient, but very, very costly. Depending on the size of the home and the work involved, you’re probably going to have to spend thousands of dollars on a new roof.

Some roofing materials are more conducive to a longer lifespan, but others last between 10 to 20 years before needing to be replaced.

Some roofing materials are more conducive to a longer lifespan, but others last between 10 to 20 years before needing to be replaced.

That said, you as a homeowner are probably looking for ways to help keep your roof looking and acting as young as possible for as long as possible.

Consider the following suggestions when it comes to extending your roof lifespan.

 

1. Take Care of Your Gutters

When it comes to extending your roof lifespan, you may not immediately think that gutters are an important part of this process.

But they absolutely are!

Gutters not only catch debris and leaves that fall off your roof, but they also direct water away from the roof and foundation and through downspouts. They’re crucial for directing excess water where it needs to go so it doesn’t end up causing problems later.

So, taking care of gutters is an important part of taking care of your roof. Springtime is a great time to fix your gutters and make sure your gutters are prepared for the weather of the upcoming seasons.

Make sure they’re securely fastened to the home, and fill in any gaps or holes with caulk. Clean them out well, removing any debris and leaves so excess rainwater or melted ice and move through them with ease.

 

2. Increasing Your Roof Lifespan

Unless you’re a roofing professional, there’s only so much you can do to ensure your roof is functioning well and is structurally sound.

It’s a good idea to have a roofing specialist come inspect and evaluate your roof at least once a year.

They know what to look for and will be able to identify and fix any questionable areas, whether there are structural concerns, missing shingles, or weak spots.

 

3. Keep Your Trees Trimmed Well

Keeping your trees trimmed back is another important step you can take in keeping your roof safe from undue damage that would shorten it’s life.

Tree branches can rub up against rooftops, shaking shingles loose, or they can fall or blow onto the roof during violent storms or high winds. These can damage not only the roof, but skylights and chimneys as well.

So it’s in you and your roofs best interests to keep trees trimmed, especially those closest to the home. Trimming trees to a safe degree will also help keep your home safe in the event a tree would happen to fall on it due to winds or lightning strikes.

Doing this will help lengthen the roof lifespan as trees can be dangerous.

 

4. Don’t Forget Ventilation & Insulation in Your Attic

You may not have any living space in your attic but that doesn’t mean ventilation and insulation aren’t important; on the contrary, they’re very important for the sake of your roof.

Keeping airflow going through the attic will help regulate temperatures in the summer so your shingles don’t get excessively hot.

Similarly, this can help prevent moisture from appliances and showers from gathering underneath the roof, which could result in a number of problems such as rot, mold, or structural issues.

 

5. Clean off Fungus & Take Precautions

Mold and mildew won’t cause your root to fall in overnight, but they can definitely negatively impact your home in general.

Clean this off the roof surface regularly using a cleaning solution and hose, and then take precautions to prevent the formation of mold.

Zinc strips on a rooftop can eliminate the ability for mold to grow on shingles, and is a low-profile, simple solution to this problem.

 

6. Make It Watertight

Roof leaks can cause immense problems not just in the roof itself but also elsewhere in the home, causing you time, money, and inconvenience later on.

That’s why you want to make sure your roof is completely watertight.

You can ensure this by using a caulking gun to seal any and all holes around corners, joints, and chimneys.

7. Avoid Ice Dams & Excessive Snow Build Up

There are certain things you should do in the winter to protect your roof and extend the roof lifespan the rest of the year, as well.

Ice dams and excessive snow are two particular dangers that you’ll have to contend with.

Heated wire stretched across your roof can help minimize ice buildup and protect against ice dams. Ice dams are dangerous because they can result in increased weight and shingle damage if not taken care of properly.

Excessive snow build-up is also a concern, as snow can be very heavy and in areas that receive a great deal of snow, this can really threaten the structural integrity of a roof and result in weak spots over time.

 

Conclusion

In order to extend  your roof lifespan, you really just need to take care of it throughout the year and throughout all seasons.

In spring, make sure you consult with a professional to see if there are any shingle or structural problems that need to be addressed.

Prepare your home for rain and winds by making it watertight and ensuring gutters are securely fastened to the home. Trimming trees can help you avoid branch damage, as well.

In winter, take steps to prevent too much ice and snow building up which can cause problems in both the long and short term.

Considering these yearly maintenance tips will help your roof remain strong and healthy, giving you peace of mind and a truly safe roof over your head throughout all four seasons with a roof lifespan that you can rely on.