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Maintaining Your Roof
Many homeowners don’t think about their roof until a leak appears. However, just like other parts of your home, the roof requires ongoing maintenance to prevent leaks. Ongoing maintenance is important to maintain your roofs integrity and identify minor problems before they become major costly problems. This will ensure the maximize amount of time before you need to replace your roof.
Maintenance Matters
Sloped roofs have overlapping materials which create a surface that sheds water effectively into a drainage system such as eavestroughs or gutters. Sloped roofing materials include asphalt or fiberglass shingles, cedar shakes, slate tiles, concrete or clay tile, or sheet metal panels. If a leak occurs in your roof and goes undetected for a period of time, it can result in further damage to the building structure and interior finishes.
Why Must Roofs be Maintained
To reduce the chances of premature aging and leaks, regular inspections and maintenance of your roof is needed. Roofs are exposed to sunlight, rain, snow, hail, wind and temperature changes that gradually break down the roofing materials.
With proper maintenance and care, you can maximize the life of your roof and prolong the time that your roof will need to be replaced. Given proper maintenance, roofing systems generally have what is referred to as a “leak-free life.” The roof should not leak over this time span, if properly designed, constructed and maintained. After this time, the roof should have many years of life. However, leaks should be expected, and they will increase in severity and frequency, until the roof will require replacement. Mother nature can also cause unforeseen maintenance and repairs to your roof. In Moist cool areas, moss can begin to form and cause damage to the integrity of your roof. Keeping an eye on your roof and scheduling yearly maintenance will help prevent damages. Proper maintenance and identifying potential problems prior to experiencing an actual roof failure will save your home and money.
How Often do Roofs Need to be Inspected and Maintained?
Roofs should be inspected twice a year:
• In the spring to address any winter damage that may have occurred
• In the fall to prepare for the upcoming winter snow and rain
Your roof, including flashings and other accessories, should also be inspected after any storm with high winds (for example, check for loose, broken or missing shingles), extreme rain or hail, or if construction has taken place on the roof area. The inspection should also include the underside of roof structure or decks, and the outside of the building, as these areas may indicate potential problems with your roof.
Replacing Your Roof
Eventually, maintenance will no longer be useful or cost effective in preventing leaks. At that time, full replacement of the roof will be required. Roofs should be replaced before the risk of complete failure gets too high, to avoid potentially costly interior and exteriors repairs from water leakage. Life expectancies of roofs can range from 10 years to over 30 years, depending on the roof design, exposure, construction and materials used. A qualified roofing contractor will be able to identify the type of roofing system that you have and its current condition, maintain your roof, and determine its anticipated life.
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