Roof Maintenance

Residential roof maintenance is often the most neglected area of a home. Not surprisingly, most property owners do not have the expertise (or desire) to get onto their roofs and look for problems themselves. A preventative maintenance plan consisting of periodic inspection, routine maintenance, and minor repairs can help avoid costly problems down the road. Constant exposure to the elements break down the roofing system, deteriorated caulking is one of the top sources of roof leaks.

Why Is Roof Maintenance Important?

A typical roof life is 25-30 years. Little or no maintenance can dramatically shorten the useful life of a roof.

When a leak occurs, even for a professional, the source of a leak can be elusive because it rarely lines up with where the water is getting into the home. Roofing contractors need to become detectives to correctly identify the source of a leak and understand the path that water travels. Yet all of this pain can be avoided with systematic roof maintenance.

With thorough periodic inspection we can help monitor the roof’s condition and help prevent small problems from becoming major leaks. Preventative maintenance service such as re-caulking exposed nails, re-caulking around vents and roof penetrations are included in our roof maintenance and tune-up package.

Residential roof maintenance is very affordable, stay ahead of a costly repair by maintaining your roof on an annual basis.

Follow these tips...

Tips On Roof Maintenance

Thoroughly Inspect Shingles Each Season

Each season comes with problems unique to the weather patterns common during that time. Hot, humid months bring excessive sun damage and potential hurricane damage, and cold wintery months bring snow storms and potential for leaks caused by melting ice and snow. Therefore, it is important that you perform a thorough inspection of your shingles and other roofing materials each and every season. Look at the shingles for signs of excessive wear or damage, making sure to note any that are outright missing and need to be replaced. Check the integrity of the caulk around the flashing, as well as your vent pipes. Note any areas that have moss or lichen, as that indicates the potential for material decay beneath those shingles. Address any problems you find right away to prevent small, easily repairable issues from escalating.

Clean and Maintain the Gutters

When kept in great condition, your gutters protect your roof by directing water and debris away from your roof and home foundation. To ensure your gutters can do their job correctly, you must keep them free of leaves, sticks, and other debris. If you do not have trees close to your home, cleaning your gutters at least twice a year to keep water flowing properly. If you have trees on your property or live in an area like North Carolina that experiences semi-regular hurricanes, cleaning your gutters on a quarterly basis will keep them working correctly.

Trim Branches Hanging Near Your Roofline

Trimming large trees near your home, especially those that hang over your roof, can protect your home from damage caused by impacts and debris accumulation. Heavy storms and natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes can cause tree limbs to fly freely, potentially damaging your roof. Trim branches that hang too close to your roof or look like they might break in a storm. It is recommended that you check the growth of the tree branches around your home on an annual basis to determine when they need a trim.

Understand the Impact of Sun Exposure on Your Roof

Sunlight over time can have a devastating impact on the condition of your roof. In areas with too much sun, UV rays relentlessly shine down on roofing materials, heating them up and dissipating their protective oils. Without enough sun, however, the risk of moss, algae, and lichen growth increases considerably. By understanding how the sunshine, or lack of, affects the condition of your roof, you can work with a roofing expert to mitigate those factors.

Treat for Moss, Lichen, and Algae Annually

Allowing moss, lichen, and algae to grow on your roof can lead to extensive damage and an overall unsightly appearance. This often occurs during warmer months in shady areas of your roof. You can easily remove these growths by having your roof cleaned by a professional. Once your roof is clean and dry, you can apply preventative products containing zinc and copper that will keep the moss, lichen, and algae from growing back. When applied annually, these products effectively prohibit growth of all substances on your shingles.

Remove Leaves and Debris From Your Roof on a Regular Basis

With the removal of roof debris, you effectively protect your home from damage and even prevent the growth of moss, lichen, and algae. Your gutters will not catch all of the leaves and debris that may land on your roof, especially after heavy storms. Therefore, it is important to regularly check your roof for debris and remove it promptly.

Replace the Caulk Around Flashings as Needed

Your roof has flashing around the chimney and vent pipes to prevent water from leaking into your home. To ensure the flashing on your roof can protect against water leaks, you should inspect and replace the caulk on an annual basis. During the inspection, check to see if the caulk is missing or starting to lift up in any areas. If so, simply scrape away the old caulk and apply a new bead to fill the gap.

Ensure Your Attic Has Good Insulation

Without proper insulation, snow and ice accumulated on your roof during winter will start to melt at the lowest layer, allowing the water to refreeze around your shingles. If there is an ice dam on your roof, which prevents water from properly draining from the gutters, this melting process can cause extensive damage to the shingles and roof itself very quickly. The insulation in your attic helps to protect against this damage by keeping the heat in your home from escaping through the roof. Installing high-quality insulation, such as R-49 and R-60, in your attic space will go a long way in preventing this issue.

Have Your Trusted Experts Perform All Maintenance and Repairs

Only a professional will know if you should repair or replace your roof. As a homeowner the best decision you can make when it comes to roof maintenance is trust a professional specializing in residential roofing. There are many reasons why trusting a professional is beneficial to your home, but perhaps the most important reason is peace of mind. Roofing experts are skilled professionals who know what to look for, how to work with all roofing types, and keep detailed ledgers of their work. This gives you peace of mind that regardless or what type of roof your home has, the professionals will know what to do, and what’s been done, to keep it lasting.

Dustin De Coursey

Customer

Dustin De Coursey

When we purchased our home two years ago, the roof had not been maintained which eventually resulted in a couple leaks as well as significant amount of moss on the concrete tiles. We knew a flat addon and all the valleys at the very least had to be either replaced, or the very least have major maintenance completed. After going through many bids we fortunately found Alex whom was very professional, respectful and fair on pricing. He worked with us to ensure we knew everything that would be done, how it would be done and with what materials. When they found additional damage we had been unaware of, he gave us options and made us feel confident our roof was in good shape by the time his team completed. Fast forward 6 months, we’ve just had our first bit of rain and everything is holding up well.

More…

William Kilgore - Customer - Alex Perez Roofing Sacramento

Customer

William Kilgore

I am very pleased with the new roof Alex and his crew installed last week on my house in South Land Park Hills. I received five quotes (more but only five showed up) and I chose Alex Perez Roofing because he was reliable, had great references, is a family business, has been roofing for many years, and his quote was very reasonable.

Alex consistently followed up with me and when they began the work he provided excellent customer service, timely responses to phone calls/texts, and installed my new roof in 4-days which included gutter guards and repairing some holes where I had the wind turbines removed. He installed the ridge vent as I requested and the roof passed the permit process. He even sent me pics of the new roof since I live in San Diego.

Paula Abertolli - Customer of Alex Perez Roofing Sacramento

Customer

Paula Albertolli

Alex came and gave us a quote on Friday and had his crew start the job on the following Monday! They did a Great job, and left everything neat and even hauled away the old gutters. This company cares about its customers and wants to do right by them. Alex is very responsive and informative as well and offered suggestions about future repairs.

Mikel Delgado - Customer of Alex Perez Roofing Sacramento

Customer

Mikel Delgado

we were having roof problems, Alex Perez Roofing was quick to respond! After reading all the great reviews and meeting Alex in person, and receiving a reasonable quote, we decided to work with him for our new roof. We love supporting this family business — Alex really cares about his clients and the quality of the work, and he is extremely knowledgeable and communicative. The entire crew from tear-down through install were friendly, hardworking, professional and did a great job with clean up. Alex was available through the entire process! We are very happy with our new roof and gutters and highly recommend APR!!!

Customer

Troy M.

From the first time I spoke with Alex, he was professional, real, good guy, and modest. I had a very large tree fall in a storm and land on my roof. It did quite a bit of damage to the roof and our patio cover. He gave me an estimate and when i scheduled the roof repair, he told me it would take 4 days. Alex even took time out of his personal time in the evenings to answer questions and talk. More…

Customer

Stephanie U.

Let me start off by saying the I bought a fixer upper, so I have had A LOT of experience with companies coming to my home to to work for various projects over this past year. Alex Perez’s Roofing is by far the best experience I have had. Hands down. I had Alex and his crew put seamless aluminum gutters on my home and I couldn’t be happier with the process.

Alex is right mix of professional and friendly. More…

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Roof Maintenance

Frequently Asked Questions

What does roof maintenance include?

There are several roof maintenance tasks that homeowners can complete themselves.

Loose debris removal. Remove any branches, leaves or other debris that can accumulate on a roof in winter. …
General inspection and repair. …
Moss and mold removal.
Soffits, fascia, gutters and downspouts.
Chimneys, skylights and vent openings.

How often should my roof be maintained?

In general, you need to have your roof inspected at least 2 times per year. You can do self-checks on your roof to see if there is anything you notice in addition to hiring a professional to check it out for you. Once during the spring and once during the fall are perfect times to have this done.

What are common signs I might need a new roof?

It’s been 20-25 years since the roof was replaced.

Water is leaking into your home or business.

Shingles are visibly cracked or damaged.

The roof sags.

There’s mold in your home or business.

Moss is growing on the roofing material.

How many years is a roof good for?

Roofs. Slate, copper and tile roofs can last more than 50 years. Homeowners with wood shake roofs should expect them to last about 30 years, while fiber cement shingles last about 25 years and asphalt shingle/composition roofs last about 20 years, the NAHB found.

What are signs of a bad roof?

You have several missing or loose shingles
Your shingles are curling, cracking, dry, or blistering.
The roof is sagging.
There are dark/dirty areas on your roof.
You have granules in your gutters.
You notice several exposed or loose nail heads.
You have water damage inside your home or attic.
There are areas where flashing is missing or damaged
Your roof is over 20 years of age.
Your heating and cooling bills have gotten noticeably higher.

What color roof laststhe longest?

Black

Black LOOKS the best the longest… hides everything… From my experiance light colored roofs last longer than dark colored roofs although the shingle manufacturers all claim they last the same time. Have noticed that dark colored roofs get lighter over time while light colored roofs get darker over time.

What type of roof will lastthe longest?

The NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) rates slate as by far the longest lasting roofing material, with a life expectancy of 150+ years, followed closely by clay and concrete at roughly 100 years.

I have just realized my roof is leaking. What should I do?

First, you should protect what is inside your building. Move furniture if needed or cover it with plastic sheeting. Then call Alex Perez Roofing and tell us you have a leaking roof that is allowing water into your building. We will arrange for an inspection team to check it out.

Alex Perez Roofing

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