When you buy a home, ideally, the initial inspection will give you insight as to the well-being of the property and how soon something, if anything, will need to be fixed or refurbished. Sometimes real estate agents are more concerned with the technology inside the home—such as the water heater and the HVAC system—and something as important as the state of the roof isn’t as deeply reviewed.
A general inspection, whether you’re buying a property or doing a review of your current business or residence can give you some insight into the stability, longevity, and reliability of the roof above your head. Much like a property owner would take regular care and do maintenance of their HVAC system to optimize for functionality, rooftops should be inspected at regular intervals to make sure they’re safe for you, your family, your business team, and the longevity of the property.
Be sure to take the time to inspect the roof and verify that it’s in good condition and will last you a long time. A home’s roof life in the Oregon climate is an important thing. It keeps you dry and protects you from the elements. A roof that leaks or is damaged can make for uncomfortable or impossible living conditions. Any failures or issues with the roof need to be addressed immediately.
There are even things you can do to protect your rooftop and extend the roof life of your Oregon home or business. Here are five things you can do to protect the rooftop protecting you and extend its life.
1. Clear and Clean Your Gutters Regularly
Leaves aren’t heavy, right? Well, when they’re bogged down and clogging the gutters with the help of rainwater, you’re looking at some potentially messy weight on your roof. Keep an eye on the gutters and clear them out regularly so rainwater can flow down the gutters as it’s designed to.
Don’t try to clean the gutters from the roof. Instead, get a ladder and two buckets. One bucket is where you put the leaves and debris, and the other bucket will hold the tools you’ll use. If the ladder doesn’t have built-in hooks for the buckets, you can fashion wire hooks. You’ll also want a pair of work or gardening gloves to protect your hands from any sharp debris, such as pine needles and twigs.
Garden tools, like a trowel or small shovel, will be essential for removing the larger debris. For the smaller and finer sediment components, a hose should be able to flush them down.
2. Clear the Roof of Moss
Moss can give a roof a certain provincial aesthetic, but it can also depreciate the value and lifetime of a rooftop. Moss is a living thing and, as such, will find nooks and crannies in which to grow. This is especially true as it affects wood and asphalt. It can start to grow in-between the shingles and, over time, allow a porous space for water to leak in. This can be visible with the naked eye: a telltale sign is rotting wood.
Get a ladder in order to clean the moss. This is best done on a cloudy day so as not to give the moss the opportunity to feed off the sunlight. Also, it’s important you don’t use a power washer on the roof, as it can cause damage to the shingles. If the moss is so bad that it must be pressure washed, leave that to a professional roofing contractor. After scrubbing the roof, if it still looks like it needs further treatment, you’ll need to get a moss cleaner. It will prevent the moss from growing back. However, moss treatment is a chemical designed to kill vegetation. Be cautious not to get it on yourself or on any vegetation you don’t want to kill … like your lawn.
3. Manicure the Surround Trees to Prevent Overhanging Branches
Prolonging the lifetime of your roof is easily done when you protect it from overhanging branches. They act as a transport for little critters that might like to explore your roof and home, causing both internal and external damage. Plus, branches can threaten the roof structure should they break off and fall onto the rooftop. While smaller branches are less of a worry, the big, heavy branches will need immediate attention.
4. Remove and Replace Damaged Shingles
It’s important to get damaged shingles replaced soon. The shingles will be further damaged with UV rays hitting them, so the best thing to do is to find a day with moderate weather to replace them. If it’s too cold out, they could crack; too hot, and there could be issues with the sealant. A professional roofing contractor can evaluate if you have a manufacturer’s defect or damage from an event, like a tree branch rubbing on the surface of the roof.
5. Hire Trained and Licensed Contractors
This may sound obvious, but when it comes to investing in the protective feature going over your head and helping to insulate and ventilate your home, professionals are really the only way to go. They’ll be subject to following standards and guidelines and will have to abide by the law. Even if your neighbor’s uncle has done many roofing jobs, it makes sense to hire someone who has insurance, who is reliable, and who will have to follow legal protocols. Investing in a roof can be anywhere from approximately $20,000 for shingles up through $35,000 or more for sourced luxury materials, so it’s worth it to make sure that the people installing your roof have the knowledge and tools to do the best job.
For a job done well that meets all building standards in the Portland area, look no further than Interstate Roofing. We have the experience, knowledge, and training to keep your roof in its best condition so you won’t have to worry about its life span and instead will be enjoying your lifestyle.