Every home will eventually need a new roof — sadly, they don’t last forever. In the best-case scenario, a properly installed and maintained residential roof can last 20 years (or sometimes even longer). When you’re about to make the big investment in a new roof, you want to do everything you can to make sure that your home’s new replacement roof comes out on the high end of that estimate. There are steps you can take as a homeowner to help ensure the longevity of your home’s new replacement roof, saving yourself headaches and expense for the following decades.
Use the Right Roofing Company
This is the single most important choice you can make in determining how long your roof will last: have you hired a reliable, experienced, trusted local roofing company to install your new roof? You want to work with a company that is local to the area (in case of future problems or repairs) that you can trust to do the work properly. You want to hire a locally based roofing company with a top-notch reputation and a history of providing great roofing services to your community. (Here in Cincinnati, you can always call us here at Harper Siding & Roofing.)
Clean the Gutters Regularly
This is the least glamorous and exciting thing we could tell you, but you need to know that it’s a small thing that really does make a big difference. Keeping your gutters clear means keeping moisture off of your roof and away from your walls and foundation. Gutter cleaning is one of the least exciting and most effective home maintenance tasks for keeping the exterior of your home in top condition. This is a very manageable DIY home maintenance task for many homeowners, but your local roofing professionals also offer this service, whether you’re not too keen on climbing up on a ladder or you find you’re just not getting to it as often as you should.
Trim Back Branches and Trees
Trimming back the trees and branches that overhang your roof (or are just in close proximity) is a great idea in terms of maintaining your roof’s lifespan. First, fewer leaves on your roof means fewer leaves in your gutters which means less moisture on your roof which means your roof will last longer. And there’s no faster path towards serious roof damage than a tree landing on your roof or a large branch hitting it on its way down.
Remove Moss and Debris
Moss and debris hold moisture, and moisture that collects on your roof will do damage over time. If you find that moss is growing on your roof, you may already have a moisture problem, but removing moss and dead leaves encourages water to run off of your roof and into the gutters — and that’s where you want it.
Check Out Your Attic Ventilation and Insulation
A good roof will protect your home, but problems in your attic can undermine your roof. Whether because moisture is being trapped between your attic and the underside of your roof, or the temperature difference between your attic and roof is causing the underlayers of your roof to deal with greater temperature fluctuations than it is built for, taking care of issues in your attic will help to extend the lifespan of your roof.
Deal With Problems ASAP
There are no roofing problems that will resolve themselves. I’ll say it again, in caps: THERE ARE NO ROOFING PROBLEMS THAT WILL RESOLVE THEMSELVES. Your roof will not heal if you “wait and see”. If you think there’s a problem with your roof, address it as soon as possible. If it’s something you can take care of yourself, that’s great! But if it needs an expert, please call us, sooner rather than later. If you think you have a leak, you probably do. If you think you’re noticing more shingles in the yard after a big wind storm, that’s probably true. Every single roofing issue, from small to big, is easier to manage earlier rather than later. Your roof will not get better on its own. Take care of what needs to be taken care of, and deal with a smaller headache now rather than a massive headache later.
Hire a Pro for Maintenance and Repairs
There are some roof repairs that can be handled as a DIY project. But the truth is, the money you save on handling those issues yourself is probably going to come out of your pocket later as an earlier roof replacement. Unless you’re a professional roofer caring for your roof in your own time (in which case, you’re probably not reading this blog) any roof repair you make is unlikely to be done as well as one done by an experienced, professional roofer. One of the best pieces of advice we can give you in terms of extending the life of your roof is to resist the urge to save on small repairs now — give us a call (if you’re in the Cincinnati area, you can call us here at Harper Siding & Roofing) and let us handle the small stuff. It helps to set up your roof (and your budget) for success and longevity in the future.
Take great care of your home’s new roof by following these tips and getting professional help when you need it. Here in Cincinnati, we are happy to be of service here at Harper Siding & Roofing. Call us anytime for help or advice on protecting your investment in your home’s roof.