Your car needs its oil changed to keep it maintained and running smoothly; the same goes for your roof. I mean, think about it.
You invested a lot of money in your roof, so it makes sense to also invest in its long-term health. The best way to do this is to have it periodically checked and inspected. But how often does your roof need maintenance?
For over 30 years, Bill Ragan Roofing has helped homeowners maximize their roofs' lifespans. Because of this, I’ll break down what you need to know about maintaining your roof.
This article answers the following questions:
- How often does your roof need maintenance?
- How does a roofing contractor maintain your roof?
- How much does roof maintenance cost?
How often does your roof need maintenance?
Depending on the type of roofing material, roof maintenance can be done on an annual, biannual, or quarterly basis. However, I always recommend maintaining your roof at least once a year.
You may think that because I’m a roofing contractor, I’m just trying to get you to spend more money. However, maintenance is a crucial component to your roof’s longevity.
Don’t believe me? Let’s look at the main reasons why roof maintenance is crucial to your investment.
Roof maintenance prevents future problems
The biggest reason why getting roof maintenance is important is that it prevents future problems. It’s the best way to catch a minor issue before it becomes a major and expensive problem.
For example, a cracked pipe boot is a common repair that's simple and inexpensive. However, not catching the leak before it starts can cause $300, $400, or even up to $500 worth of damage to your ceiling.
You’re looking at even more expensive damage if there are multiple leaks. You’ll also have to pay for the roof repair and worry about potential mold in your attic from the moisture.
Roof maintenance is simply the best way to stay ahead of expensive problems before they start.
Roof maintenance maximizes the life of your roof
Your roof was a large investment, so you should want to take care of it to ensure you get as many years as possible out of it. Maintenance ensures your roof’s life is maximized, which means longer protection and more ROI.
For example, the most common roofing material in the United States is architectural asphalt shingles. With proper installation and attic ventilation, an architectural asphalt roof should last around 22-25 years.
With regular roof maintenance, you’ll reach this lifespan and maybe even a few more past it.
Roof maintenance gives you peace of mind
The two reasons we just covered play into a huge benefit of roof maintenance: peace of mind. And just like a properly installed roof and hiring a great roofer, this ensures your peace of mind lasts for decades.
Every time you get roof maintenance, your roofing contractor will either catch potential problems or give your roof a clean bill of health. Even if you need repairs, they were caught before they had the chance to become serious.
This gives you peace of mind after every maintenance inspection by knowing everything checked out a-okay or problems were caught and taken care of. And the next time a big storm hits, you can sit back and relax because you don’t have to worry about water getting in.
How does a roofing contractor maintain your roof?
Now that you know how often you need roof maintenance and why it’s important, are you wondering what’s actually maintained? This is pretty common, especially for skeptical homeowners.
Let’s look at what exactly a roofer does while performing roof maintenance.
Inspect the overall condition of your roof
The first thing a roofing contractor inspects during roof maintenance is simply the health of your roof. They’ll look for any potential leaks, damage, and the overall condition to ensure it’s fully functioning.
And as I said, this is also the perfect time to determine how much time is left until your roof needs to be replaced.
Check for failing pipe boots
Pipe boots are the neoprene (synthetic rubber) flashing around the plumbing or vent pipes that come through your roof. Over time, cracks form that allow water to follow the pipe into your home.
This is actually one of (if not the most) common roof leaks in residential roofing. During roof maintenance, all pipe boots are checked and replaced if needed.
Remove sitting debris on your roof
One of the most important pieces of roof maintenance is removing sitting debris, especially in roof valleys. When leaves, sticks, or other debris build-up, a literal dam forms on your roof.
This causes water to back up, get under the shingles, and leak inside your home. Sitting debris also becomes oversaturated the longer it’s left to sit, which damages and shortens the lifespan of the shingles below.
Look for signs of animal intrusion
Your attic is the perfect safe place for squirrels, raccoons, and other small animals. They can severely damage your home by causing a leak, chewing on the electrical wiring, and creating a biohazard with their waste.
Unfortunately, animals usually access your attic through your roof by creating large holes. That’s why roof maintenance is the best way to catch the problem early and add protections to prevent animal intrusion.
Ensure your roof vents are functioning properly
Your attic’s ventilation system and its roof vents are crucial to a roof’s lifespan. If your attic isn’t vented properly, your roof will fail prematurely, your energy bills will increase, and health hazards like mold can thrive.
During roof maintenance, the roofing contractor will check to ensure the vents are fully functioning and there are no blockages.
Inspect your roof flashing
Roof flashing is a thin metal material installed to direct water away from areas where shingles butt up against something (walls, chimneys, valleys, etc.). It’s one of the most crucial roofing components to prevent water from getting into areas prone to leaks.
Your roofing contractor will check for rusting, damage, or installation issues. This is especially important when considering how much water leaks into your home’s interior from failed or damaged flashing.
How much does roof maintenance cost?
Now to the not-so-fun part of roof maintenance: the cost. Every company is different, but roof maintenance generally costs anywhere from $120 to $400.
Where you’ll fall in the price range depends on the size, accessibility, and complexity of your roof. This looks costly on the surface, but most roofing companies offer maintenance programs that include yearly roof inspections, and some include certain repairs in the price.
On top of that, they come with other perks, like discounted repair rates, gutter cleaning, and more. So, while roof maintenance comes at an expense, it’s well worth the investment.
How do you find a reputable roofer to maintain your roof?
After reading this article, you should understand the importance of roof maintenance. Remember, you spent a lot of money on your roof.
So, it just makes sense to take care of it like any other investment. But you also need the right person to take care of it.
That’s why you need to know how to find a reputable roofer you can trust to maintain your roof and maximize its potential.
Check out 7 Tips to Find a Great Roofing Contractor to find a roofer you can trust in your area.
