Roofs are big investments, so much so that you want to maximize their value. You can extend your asphalt shingle roof’s lifespan if you can keep it in good condition and quickly handle any issues it develops. Here’s a guide to what you can do as a homeowner to make your current roof last as long as possible.
Get Your Gutters Cleaned
So many roofing issues crop up because of gutter clogs and backlog. When the gutters aren’t working properly, the water stays on the roof surface, slowly degrading the shingles. Poorly functioning gutters might also cause water to splashback onto the shingles. From this direction, it’s much simpler for water to get under the shingles and potentially cause a leak. Thus, it is very important to have your gutters cleaned regularly. At least once a year, but more often if you have trees that drop debris on your roof.
Handle Debris and Reduce Shade
Speaking of trees, they aren’t always your roof’s best friend. In many areas, roofs that have too much shade from trees get covered in debris and may develop moss or algae, which thrive in the shade. You can have your roofer keep cleaning the debris, moss, and algae off, or you can trim back the trees to reduce the shade and eliminate the problem for the long run.
That said, if the trees above your roof don’t drop many leaves or other debris, and your roof doesn’t have a moss or algae problem, the shade may actually be doing your roof better than harm. Afterall, it’s sun exposure that eventually does in asphalt shingles.
Get Regular Inspections
No matter how perfectly your roof was installed, it will eventually develop a problem. The longer that problem is allowed to affect your roof, the more it will undermine the roof’s lifespan. So, it is best to have your roof inspect your roof to catch these issues before they become so bad that they leak through to your ceiling. Not only will your roof last longer this way, but your repairs will also be cheaper too.
Don’t Try DIY Roofing Repair
Roofs are complicated, and few homeowners are genuinely equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to make proper repairs. Instead, people usually make their roof worse when they head up to handle a leak themselves. Any website telling you that you can solve a leak with just a bit of roofing cement or silicone caulking is giving you bad advice, that can even void the warranty on your
Don’t even let someone from the skylight company do work on your roof. So many skylights leak because they are installed improperly, by people who understand skylights but not how they should integrate with roofs.
Consider Shingle Quality
Lastly, the best way to get a longer life from your roof is to invest in better quality shingles, installed by a more experienced and diligent company. Ideally, you can also get a better warranty, so that even if your shingles give out early, you’re still covered.