If I were to ask 20 people in a room, “Do you feel comfortable getting on your roof?” I think the number of affirmative responses would be low. Some homeowners gladly jump up there from time to time to check things out, but most homeowners seem to avoid physically getting on their roofs. A lot of times, homeowners don’t think about their roofs — until that leak springs up. At that point, the roof demands attention. Some homeowners can replace it promptly while others might need that roof to last another year or two. With this in mind — and regardless of if you want to follow these tips yourself or hire a professional — let’s talk about 5 ways to extend the life of your roof:
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Consistently Clean Your Roof of All Debris
Many times, during the year, trees drop leaves, limbs, and other growth. Before you know it, a big pile has accumulated in the valley. Moisture then gets trapped on the shingles beneath the pile. Shingles that are consistently wet start to rot. In Tulsa, where the trees are dense and storm season drops debris fast, this can sneak up on you quickly. Make sure leaves and debris are cleaned off your roof several times a year.
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Stay on Top of Minor Repairs
Don’t let minor repairs turn into major repairs. If a shingle or two is missing, get them repaired right away. Also, loose flashing can easily be repaired. Over the years, nails that hold flashing down can start to wiggle loose. Keep an eye out and re-nail the flashing. Also, caulk all nail heads that are exposed. Use a good quality tube of caulk from a roofing supply store.
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Clean Your Gutters
This is one of the dirtiest — and sometimes smelliest — jobs of home maintenance but an important one, nonetheless. Gutters are designed to carry water away from your house thereby protecting the foundation of your home. If the gutters become clogged, they begin to overflow and can rot the fascia board. Depending on the style of the house, a second-story gutter might overflow onto a first-story roof, creating the potential for leaks.
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Maintain Wood Siding Around Chimneys and Walls that Meet the Roof
Wood siding boards that start to rot or have caulk that is cracked or peeling off can be problematic. Water can get behind the wood siding and then eventually run behind shingle flashings. This can lead to leaks or damage to the roof’s decking.
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Schedule an Annual Roof Inspection
A yearly roof inspection can significantly impact longevity, but only if the person doing it knows what they’re looking for. When Green Country Roofing does an annual inspection we check the following: condition of the mastic seal on every slope, any shingles that have lifted or lost granules, flashing around chimneys, pipe jacks, and walls, the state of the drip edge along the eaves, gutter attachment and pitch, and any soft spots in the decking that indicate moisture has gotten underneath. Most of these problems are invisible from the ground and inexpensive to fix when caught early. Left alone, each of them becomes a bigger repair or a full replacement. That’s the difference between a $300 fix and a $10,000 conversation.
If you have concerns about your roof or just want a professional set of eyes on it, give Green Country Roofing a call at (918) 607-7409. We’ll take a look and give you a straight answer.