Best Maintenance Tips for Your Asphalt Shingles
When you’ve noticed cracks, curling, or missing shingles, it may be time to think about a new asphalt shingle installation. Replacing your old asphalt shingles is a necessity if you want to keep your home structurally sound and free from water damage. Once you’ve gotten your new asphalt roof installed, perform these maintenance tips to keep your asphalt roof installation looking great and make it last longer.
Clean off algae, mold, and moss
If you live in a humid area, you’ll likely have to do this more often. Over time, your asphalt shingles accumulate moss growth and algae on your roof. It looks bad, and the moss will trap water, leading to more problems down the road — hello, water damage. Be sure to clean it off using a simple bleach and water blend, and don’t use a pressure washer: this can take off entire shingles or damage the grain on your asphalt roof, cutting your roof’s life significantly.
However, it’s important not to do this too often. The bleach mixture can damage your lawn and promote environmental pollution. Safely clean your roof by manually removing the moss and applying a small amount of the treatment to the area. To prevent moss and algae buildup, try trimming back your tree branches that trap humidity under shade, or prevent the accumulation of other debris with a leaf blower.
Incorporate bird prevention methods
Birds are some of the most pervasive pests that can damage your roof. From their nests to their feces, to their noise, birds are unwanted invaders that are easily dodged using a few tried and true techniques. Consider installing bird spikes where birds often roost or incorporate tapes of aluminum foil. The spikes will prevent some bird species from perching and making nests, while the foil tape uses a combination of noise and reflective light that will deter birds from even landing. Ask about what options are best for your roof during your asphalt roof installation. If you’re looking to protect your current roof, leaving it to the professional roofing company is the best way to prevent injury to yourself and get the best results.
Reroof your asphalt shingles every decade or two
Asphalt roof installation is an affordable and popular option for many homeowners. When your shingles have had enough, it’s time to call a roofing company to get the job done right. Adding too many roof covering layers may damage your home or cause safety concerns if your roof gets too heavy. If you choose to do it yourself, use galvanized, long roofing nails to ensure the nail goes all the way through.
Asphalt roofs are some of the most versatile forms of roofing out there. Maintaining the quality of your shingles and engaging in regular roof repairs will ensure your roof lasts for a long time.
