Just how important is a new roof?
Just as good working plumbing is important, so is residential roofing to a homeowner. Obvious why the plumbing working well is important, from the water coming out the faucet to the drain flowing right, we depend on our plumbing every day. It should be obvious why residential roofing is so important too, right?
Residential roofing not only provides protection to the people and belongings inside the house, but it also stabilizes the integrity of the walls to the foundation, keeping it all standing upright and strong. While it is always recommended to have a professional plumber handle plumbing repairs and a professional roofing contractor handle residential roofing repairs, sometimes, a homeowner needs to have some knowledge of how to residential roof repairs themselves in case of an emergency.
We gave you two good reasons why residential roofing is important, but maybe that wasn’t enough for your curiosity and need to justify residential roofing costs? Allow us to further expand on the Importance of a roof?
A LAYER OF PROTECTION
The world around us is beautiful on one hand and on the other hand, it can be dangerous. Residential roofing provides your family and your belongings from the harsh elements and the varying climate changes. The roof is the barrier that keeps branches, debris, hail, ice, rain, and snow off of us and our possessions. You may not realize the protection it provides until you have a leak. If you aren’t fortunate enough to catch a leak, you’ll soon find out when mildew and mold take over your attic or basement.
THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME
Good residential roofing enhances the curb appeal of your home and the value too. If the roof is in disrepair or is covered in algae and moss, it gives the entire house a look of aged and dirty, unkempt. If you have your home on the market, the roof can attract buyers, or it can turn potential buyers away.
PROVIDES ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Not only does residential roofing help a home’s appearance and value, but if properly insulated and maintained, with proper ventilation, and is structurally sound, there are fewer air leaks which will help your cooling and heating expenses.
How can I protect my roof?
It isn’t unusual for residential roofing to cost as much as a low-end new car. So, if you’re going to spend that much on your roof, should you want to take care of it? The following five steps are recommended by roofing contractors:
KEEP GUTTER SYSTEM CLEAN
Keeping your gutter system clean is a huge step in residential roofing maintenance. A dirty gutter gets clogged up over time and water has nowhere to go but overflow and flood the foundation and basement or back up under the shingles and seep into the attic.
REGULAR VISUAL INSPECTION
Schedule regular inspections of your roof from the ground and if you are able and willing, a visual from the roof too. After a storm or high winds, do an unscheduled inspection to make sure there isn’t any storm damage. Your regular inspection will be to watch for basic wear & tear, lose or missing flashing, bent, cracked or missing shingles, etc. If something doesn’t look right, call a professional residential roofing contractor.
KEEP LEAVES AND MOSS REMOVED
If your house has trees around and nearby, the leaves and limbs can accumulate on the roof and decompose, trap moisture, and algae, moss, wee growth. You can do this with your garden house or a leaf rake. If the algae and moss have already taken hold, you may need to hire a professional roof cleaning service.
KEEPING BRANCHES AND LIMBS TRIMMED
Branches and limbs overgrown and laying on the roof will damage shingles. On especially windy days, when leaves and limbs are knocked off, they can knock off shingles. Long branches and limbs also create a roadway for squirrels and rodents to access the roof, from there, they create nests in the gutter system and will gnaw their way into the attic.
KEEP ICE DAMS FROM FORMING
Using your leaf rake, clear the roof during snowstorms to keep those long icicles from forming. While they look pretty, they are dangerous for the roof and anyone passing by.
How do you maintain a roof?
Some of the following are repeated from above and there are some additional steps in maintaining residential roofing:
Shingles – replace any damaged or missing shingles, reattaching any loose shingles with roofing nails or roof sealant.
Trim back any branches or limbs that are overhanging
Check for rust around flashing, pipes, and vents
Clean the gutter system, including the downspouts
Keep the chimney patched, flashing in place
Prevent ice dams by keeping ice spikes knocked off as they form
Do you need to clean your roof?
Yes! Keeping residential roofing clean is as important as keeping maintenance and repairs upon them. By keeping debris, leaves, and limbs cleaned from the roof on a routine basis, along with gutter cleaning once a year, you will extend your roof’s lifespan.
What is the most common roof type?
There are many different types of residential roofing materials available today and choosing the right one is important as it is a huge contribution to your home’s overall appearance and style. The choices today include:
Asphalt – They are common because they are popular and popular because they are cheap, and installation is easy and fast.
Clay and Concrete – These add elegance with texture to a roof while being durable. Expensive to have installed because of their weight.
Metal – This material is lightweight yet weather-resistant and comes in panels or shingles in aluminum, copper, stainless steel or zinc. Best of all, it is recyclable.
Slate – Offers the home an elegant and distinctive beauty in rich colors of green, grey, red, purple and black.
Wood Shake and Shingles – For hundreds of years, this was the number one choice by many homeowners, especially oceanside properties where the weathered look blends in with the surroundings.
Your home is an investment that needs your attention, and that attention needs to include the roofing. Residential roofing is important on several levels as we covered here, and a homeowner should take their time with the decision process of finding new roofing material with time to select the one that will suit them for years to come. Call 346-375-9679 today for your new roof in Houston, TX.
