We don’t think about our roof on a daily basis. This is completely normal, but at least once a year, you should remember to order roof maintenance, which will protect you from developing very serious failures. In this article, we will show you 7 reasons why regular roof maintenance is very important.
Table of Contents
1. Extending Roof Lifespan
Regular roof maintenance Glenview is essential a key to your roof’s life prolongation. Technical inspections conducted by a specialist will allow you to detect structural damage to your shingles or shakes as quickly as possible. It’s exactly like with a car – an unnoticed failure can lead to faster wear and tear of other components of the whole complex puzzle that is your home.
How Regular Maintenance Prolongs Roof Life?
The biggest advantage of regular roof maintenance is that a qualified person will carefully assess the condition of your roof as well as adjacent parts – we mean gutters, as well as the chimney, flashings or skylights. Minor repairs don’t cost much, and will allow you to effectively protect your home’s interior from perhaps the most destructive threat, water. Ongoing repairs also ensure that if a strong wind comes, no roof component will detach and damage your car or the building next door.
Common Issues Detected and Resolved During Maintenance
At our clients, we mostly deal with:
- Repair and replacement of cracked or missing shingles;
- Repair and replacement of damaged flashings;
- Cleaning gutters of leaves and debris;
- Patching minor leaks;
- Identification of damage to chimneys;
- Roof window and skylight sealing.
2. Preventing Costly Repairs
Virtually no roof is completely maintenance-free – regular maintenance should include carrying out minor, ongoing repairs and waterproofing. This is important because by cedar roof treatment you can clearly reduce the susceptibility of wood to rot and protect it from the development of insects.
Examples of Expensive Repairs Prevented by Early Detection
Even a small leak can lead to very serious damage. Over the years, leaking water can lead to the development of mold outbreaks that are several dozen or even dozens of square feet in diameter! Equally dangerous is damage to the electrical system, which in older homes can cause a fire that completely destroys the entire building in a matter of minutes. Replacing a damaged valley flashing will cost you $500, while a complete roof replacement will cost $20,000. It’s worth checking the condition of your shingles regularly!
The Cost-Effectiveness of Regular Maintenance
Regular roof maintenance is a cost-effective way to manage your roof’s health. The relatively low roof maintenance costs of regular inspections and minor repairs can save you thousands of dollars in major repair costs or early roof replacement. Investing in regular maintenance can extend the life of your roof, providing a significant return on investment.
3. Ensuring Safety
Although it’s not often talked about, serious roof damage can be very dangerous to homeowners as well as bystanders. A detached flashing during a strong windstorm will easily kill a person, break a window or destroy the siding on your neighbor’s house.
How the Roof Maintenance Prevents Accidents?
Loose or detached shingles, bent flashings or poorly held bricks in a chimney are a ticking bomb just waiting for bad weather to arrive. A kilogram object falling from a height of 20 feet can render a person hit by it unconscious, and you don’t even need wind to do it. But if a tornado comes, every loose piece of your roof turns into a projectile that will pose a deadly threat. An example? A slate tile flying through the air during a tornado can have 4 times the energy of a bullet from a popular Glock-17 pistol.
How Maintenance Helps in Detecting Structural Issues
Routine inspections can reveal underlying structural issues that might not be immediately apparent. For example, signs of water damage or rot in the roof deck can indicate more significant problems with the roof’s structural integrity. By identifying these issues early, you can take the necessary steps to address them before they compromise the safety of your home.
4. Improving Energy Efficiency
Electricity prices are rising every year, making home heating costs an increasing burden on household budgets. Proper insulation and a well-functioning ventilation system, combined with a well-maintained roof, will allow you to generate significant savings, sometimes numbering in the thousands of dollars a year.
How Does Roof Condition Affect Your Energy Bills?
A technically sound roof has a much better insulating performance – a hole the diameter of a cork from a standard bottle can increase heat loss by up to 15%! It’s scary how little it takes for your entire house to heat up in summer and cool down in winter. Also, a faulty ventilation system can artificially raise the energy intake of HVAC systems – hot air and steam need to be efficiently extracted from the attic so they don’t build up there.
How Roof Maintenance Reduces Heating and Cooling Costs?
An experienced roofer will instantly find out whether your roof is generating serious heat loss, because it is enough to use a drone with a thermal imaging camera for this purpose. Detecting defects in the ventilation system will also not be a problem, as the symptoms are very characteristic and our employees know them very well. Examples include condensation on windows and ceilings.
5. Protecting Home Value
Sometimes we conduct pre-purchase inspections on behalf of our clients. If we notice that the roof is in poor technical condition, we report it immediately and usually, this is a very serious argument in price negotiations. You can be sure – we are no exception in this regard, and all over the world, the technical condition of the roof is extremely important to every buyer.
The Impact of a Well-Maintained Roof on Property Value
A roof in good shape has a huge impact on the market value of a home. Recently installed tiles or shakes from reputable companies like DaVinci or Brava are sure to entice any buyer, as is the lifetime transferable warranty that is becoming a standard in the roofing industry. On the other hand, a roof in bad shape can not only reduce the value of a house, but also make it more difficult to sell – no one wants to buy a property that will have problems in a while.
How Roof Condition Affects Home Inspections and Resale Value?
As we have already mentioned, when conducting a pre-purchase inspection, we pay attention to the condition of the house. Hundreds of factors are analyzed – the year the roof was installed, the material from which the gutters are made, the condition of the sheathing and roof truss, and the overall appearance of the house are just a few items on a very long list. A well-maintained roof makes a very good impression and certainly makes moving to a new home easier.
6. Weather and Seasonal Damage
The vast majority of roof damage occurs in autumn, when your home is set for changeable weather conditions and heavy rainfall. Roof maintance in September, October or November drastically reduces the risk of rapid deterioration of your building.
The Effects of Weather on Roof Integrity
If at some point a leak is to develop in your roof, it is most likely to happen in autumn or early winter. Large snow pressure, heavy rainfall, hail and strong winds exert very high loads on the entire structure, and it is the external stimuli that most often lead to cracks, bends and fractures of individual components.
7. Identification and Addressing Roof Leaks
In fact, leaks are the biggest threat to your roof as well as the interior of your home. Think for yourself, what would happen if someone spilled the volume of two tubs of water in your attic? That’s right, the contents of your home could be severely damaged. For this reason, you need to regularly check the tightness of all joints and, if necessary, take care of sealing them.
Common Signs of Roof Leaks
The most obvious symptoms of a leak in the roof are water stains and puddles. However, these are quite rare – usually, moisture attacks your home gradually and you are more likely to detect mold outbreaks or a noticeable increase in moisture in the attic. Usually, leaks are accompanied by visible damage to shingles, rusting flashings or clogged gutters – after all, these are usually what cause the problem. Regular roof maintenance makes it possible to detect the danger in a timely manner.
What to do When I Detect a Roof Leak?
When a leak is detected, it is essential to address it promptly to prevent further damage. First, locate the source of the leak and assess the extent of the damage. Next, make temporary repairs to stop the leak, such as applying roofing cement or using a tarp. Then, contact a professional roofing contractor from Wheeling to make permanent repairs. Regular roof maintenance can help prevent leaks by addressing potential issues before they become significant problems.
Conclusion
Regular roof maintenance is crucial for protecting your home, extending the lifespan of your roof, preventing costly repairs, ensuring safety, improving energy efficiency, protecting home value, managing weather and seasonal damage, and identifying and addressing roof leaks. By investing in regular roof maintenance services, you can save money in the long run and ensure that your home remains safe, comfortable, and valuable. Schedule regular inspections and maintenance tasks to keep your roof in top condition and enjoy the many benefits of a well-maintained roof.
FAQ
How often should roof maintenance be performed?
Roof maintenance should be performed at least once per year. In many cases, an inspection once every two years will also be fine, although for obvious reasons, any damage will have more time to develop.
What is included in roof maintenance?
Roof maintenance typically includes inspecting for damage, cleaning gutters, removing debris, checking for leaks, and repairing or replacing damaged shingles and flashing.
Can roof repairs be done in winter?
Yes, roof repairs can be done in winter, but it is more challenging due to weather conditions. It is best to address any necessary repair before the winter season, so you should order roof maintenance service in September or October.
Can roof repairs be done in rain?
It depends. Roof repairs can usually be done in rain, but it is not recommended, as wet conditions can make the work more dangerous and challenging, and water can damage more vulnerable parts of the roof structure such as insulation and sheathing. It is best to wait for dry weather if possible.
What should I look for during a roof inspection?
During a roof inspection, look for missing or damaged shingles, rusted or damaged flashings, signs of water damage, mold or leaks, clogged gutters and debris buildup. Regular roof maintenance and inspections can help identify and address issues before they become major problems.
