The quality of the materials and the workmanship are the most critical factors in the lifespan of your roof. If you have recently replaced your roof, you will want to know how to extend the lifespan as much as possible. There are some steps that you can take to do this, but the materials and workmanship are vital.
Adequate Roof Ventilation
When your roof has poor ventilation, you will face a range of different issues. These issues will include the premature aging of your roof. Depending on where you live, the temperature in your attic can reach 160°F in the summer when there is limited ventilation. This is superheating of the air, and it will start to penetrate the insulation of the roof.
When this happens, it will be harder to keep your home cool. The wallpaper and paint on the floor below the attic will start to be damaged. This is not the only damage that this superheated air will cause.
The shingles of your roof will start to fry with the heat coming from inside your home. This will cause them to decay at a faster rate and reduce the overall lifespan of your roof. The rafters that hold the shingles up will also be affected as the heat causes them to crack and warp.
In the winter months, you will face other problems. Moisture from inside the house caused by hot showers, baths and cooking will create an excess moisture build-up in the attic. When this moisture collects in poorly ventilated attics, it will cling to the underside of the roof. The moisture will then start to condense and fall onto the insulation where it is soaked up.
If you live in an area where it snows, inadequate ventilation will lead to ice dams. This will damage the outside of the shingles and cause them to crack and degrade faster. To avoid these issues, you need to ensure that your roof has sufficient ventilation through intake vents and air exhausts.
Insulation Can Help
When people think about the insulation in their attic, they only consider how it keeps their home warm or cool depending on the season. Insulation does more than this and will protect the structural components of the building, which impacts the overall integrity of your home. The insulation in your attic will also help to extend the lifespan of your roof.
The temperature in your roof can be up to 90 degrees higher than the ambient air temperature. During the warm months, your roof will transfer radiant heat to the parts of your home directly below it. If you have a radiant barrier and reflective insulation in your attic, you will be able to reduce this heat transfer. The heat will reflect on the roof, which reduces the temperature in the attic.
As heat in the attic reduces through the use of insulation, you will reduce the damage this does to the roof structure. You can also get roof materials such as shingles that have reflective elements. This also helps to reduce the thermal transfer and the damage this can cause.
Clean Your Roof
Taking the time to clean your roof will also help to prolong its life. If you have asphalt shingles that are in the shade most of the time, algae can start to grow on them. The algae will feed on the microscopic particles of limestone in the shingles. The problem with this is that the algae will damage the structure of the shingles over time.
Roof cleaning is not harmful and is something that you will need to hire a professional to complete. Leaving your roof covered in algae will also increase the heat in the attic. This is due to the algae being a darker color which generates more heat and will cause more damage to the shingles.
Clean The Gutters
Cleaning your gutters might not seem like an action that will prolong the life of your roof, but this is important. When your gutters are clogged, rainwater will not be able to drain correctly. This will cause a backup of the water, which will damage the structure of the roof.
The water can start to damage the shingles and the roof structure beneath them. It is advised that you clean your gutters at least twice a year, before in the spring and fall. This ensures that they are ready for the seasons where they get the most water pouring through them.
Prune Tree Branches
A lot of people have trees close to their homes, and this can help reduce the heat inside the house during summer. However, these trees can also damage your roof, and you need to consider this. The damage will generally come from overhanging branches which brush against the shingles of your roof.
When the branches brush against the shingles, they will eventually damage them. The overhanging branch also creates the best conditions for mold and algae to grow on the roof. The branches need to be pruned, but you should hire a professional roofing contractor take care of this.
There are many ways that you can prolong the lifespan of your roof. Having the roof cleaned regularly and removing overhanging branches is essential. You should also consider the ventilation of attic and insulation you are using as this will affect the heat from inside the house.
Lifespan of your roof depends mainly on the factors mentioned above, click here to get in-touch with professional roofers to know more.