Unexpected Roof Maintenance Tips To Help Extend Its Lifetime

We usually believe that nothing lasts forever. But in the era of modern technology and development, many things can last a lifetime if taken care of properly – let's say the structure of your house, including the roof.

Yes, the roof.

A well-constructed roof is much more than a surface that can offer a far and wide view from where you stand. But at the same time, it demands considerable care and attention to offer longer shade on your head.

Timely roof maintenance can help you avoid the hassle of reconstruction or replacement both of which will surely cost you a real fortune. So no matter what kind of roof you hold above on the walls, take care of it properly to extend the lifetime with a few simple tips and tricks.

From proper ventilation to regular professional check and cleaning of the gutters, here are some handy tips to help you extend the life of your roof and save a fortune:

An Active Maintenance Routine

Nothing can add life to any structure more than proper and consistent care. Just like any sizeable investment, the best way to keep the roof in perfect condition is through a regular maintenance routine.

At times while home maintenance routines may be the last thing you want to consider on a lazy weekend, a little bit of TLC can go a long way in adding years to your roof's life?

And you know what?

Going through the ritual twice a year will be more than enough.

However, you may need to keep doing inspections for any issues.

The best part is you don’t even need your ladder most of the time, as basic inspections can be performed from the ground using a budget pair of binoculars for accessible viewing.

With a thorough cleaning in spring and fall, you will get to know if the roof is ready for winter storms and heavy summer rains or not.

Kick The Moss

If you live in an area where there is excessive moisture in the earth or air or have wooden rooftops, moss is a serious issue you should be concerned about. Specifically, composition roofs often get a cover of black algae.

Luckily, a little chlorine bleach or high-quality detergent will do the magic of killing these bacteria.

But if there is excess moss on the roof (undoubtedly because of negligence), you will need professional assistance. These professionals use products that contain potassium salts from fatty acids, along with many others.

And once your roof is clear of all the moss, consider investing in zinc strips – they will keep the moss from coming back.

Investing In The Right Preventive Measures

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

These words are rightfully applicable to roof maintenance and care. So, investing a little bit of money in the right preventive care will help you go a long way with your beloved roof. It will also keep you from having to replace the entire structure in later years.

And here’s what you can do:

Tackling the attic – The easiest way is to start with the attic. Ensure it has suitable insulation with a well-laid layer of material that will help keep your home's interior temperature-stable. This will prevent the water vapors from pooling inside the roof.

Hence, you’ll be saving on cooling and heating costs.

Or you can consider adding a vapor retarder under the insulation for additional protection.

As you are done with the insulation, move on to ventilation!

Remember, adequate ventilation will prevent water vapor buildup and keep the moisture from damaging the roof rafters and sheathing. Also, thoroughly check the attic vent from the outside. They should be completely clean and free of any debris.

You can also install screens to prevent animal nesting.

If the vent size is inadequate, why not buy a ventilation fan to facilitate dryness?

You should also cut away any overhanging tree limbs. By doing so, you will also take away the possibility of sleepless nights due to crashing branches in the middle of the night; this will become all the more relevant on Freaky Friday nights after a Conjuring series marathon.

Catch The Problems Earlier

The best and most cost-effective tip is catching and getting rid of any problem in its early stages.

All you need to do is to look at the ceilings and roof regularly. It will give you a better sense of what it looks like when it's well-maintained versus when any problem appears. Doing so will help you catch onto any problem early and do small fixes at a lesser cost than larger and costly renovations.

Some aspects that you can keep an eye on include:

• Any sagging or leaning
• Apparent cracks or patches
• Cracked, torn, or entirely missing shingles – they will look like sand
• Massive accumulation of debris – algae growth or wet spots on the ceiling
• Detached downspouts or gutter
• Loose, faded, or torn material around the chimneys, pipes, and vents

Self-training for roof checking is easier than it may sound.

All you need to do is to make conscious efforts to check every inch of your roof as you roam around in the house. After a few weeks, it will become a habit. Besides this, you should also look at the roof carefully after every storm or rain.

You can take a quick walk through all the room and around in the parameters.

Spot and repair any external or internal leakage or damage as you spot it.

Keep Away The Snow And Ice

Let's talk about another severe problem in many parts of the world – ice and snow stuck on the roof. These two can cause the roof to age sooner than it should.

This happens for two main reasons:

Firstly they add excessive weight to the ceiling.

Secondly, extended contact with these substances will lower the temperature of the roofing material.

As a result, many roofing materials will expand or contract, making it very tough to repair them once they are de-shaped.

Luckily, there are many ways to get rid of ice and snow.

And you won't need to climb the roof in freezing winters.

Instead, you can use a long-hand-held scraper and remove most of the material. You can ignore the tiny bits, there is nothing to worry about. You can also use a mixture of water and road salt and splash it on the roof, but make sure the water is hot.

Endnote

Most of the aforementioned maintenance tips are budget-friendly but demand your attention. Once you add a roof check habit in your daily life, you will not feel it a burden. Likewise, it will save you a lot of time and money that you might have to spend on renovation and refurbishing of parts or the entire roof.