8 Ways To Protect Your Home And Extend Your Roof's Lifespan

Your roof is the part of the house doing the most work and getting the least attention. On the Gulf coast it takes sun, heat, driving rain and the occasional hurricane, and it does all of that where nobody looks at it.

The good news is that most roofs do not fail suddenly. They degrade in a small number of predictable ways, and staying ahead of those is inexpensive compared with the alternative. Here are eight things that genuinely extend the life of a roof.

1. Schedule regular inspections

A professional inspection catches damage while it is still small. Lifted fixings, a cracked boot around a vent, a flashing detail that has started to move: none of those are visible from the ground, and all of them are cheap to fix at that stage.

This is the single highest return item on the list, because it is the one that finds the other seven before they cost you anything.

2. Clean your gutters regularly

Blocked gutters cause water to back up along the roof edge instead of leaving the building. That standing water works on the fascia, the edge of the decking and the underside of the covering, which is exactly where you do not want a slow leak.

It is an unglamorous job with a disproportionate payoff. If the gutters overflow during heavy rain, that is the signal.

3. Trim back nearby tree branches

Branches overhanging the roof do two kinds of damage. In ordinary weather they scrape the surface every time the wind moves them, wearing the covering down in a line. In a storm they become the thing that punches through it.

Trimming back anything that reaches the roof removes both problems, and it cuts down on the leaf litter that causes the next one.

4. Address repairs quickly

Missing shingles, small leaks and damaged flashing should be repaired promptly rather than added to a list. Water that gets past the covering does not stay where it entered; it travels, and it finds the decking, the insulation and eventually the ceiling.

A timely repair is the cheap version of this problem. The expensive version is the same repair plus the structure underneath it.

5. Maintain proper attic ventilation

A lot of roof damage happens from underneath. Poor attic ventilation traps heat and moisture against the underside of the roof, which shortens the life of the covering and encourages rot in the timbers.

In a Florida summer that heat load is significant, and it is working on your roof every single day, not just during storms.

6. Keep the roof clear of debris

Leaves, twigs and general buildup hold moisture against the roof surface long after the rain has stopped. Anywhere debris collects, especially in valleys and behind chimneys, is somewhere the covering stays wet and deteriorates faster.

Clearing it is straightforward, and it is worth doing after any period of high wind.

7. Watch for storm damage

After severe weather, check the roof from the ground and schedule an assessment if anything looks wrong. Damage from wind and debris is not always visible immediately, and a small breach left through a wet season becomes a much larger repair.

Photograph anything you find at the time. If it turns into a claim later, that record is worth having.

8. Work with experienced roofing professionals

Quality workmanship protects the investment, and the reverse is also true: a roof installed outside the manufacturer's guidelines can have its product warranty voided no matter whose materials are on it.

Ask whether the contractor is licensed and insured, what workmanship warranty comes with the job, and whether they hold manufacturer certifications. CBS Roofing and Waterproofing is state certified and fully insured under Florida licence CCC057589, and a Master Elite GAF installer. Most of our projects carry a five year workmanship warranty, and tile installations carry eight.

Where to start

• If you have not had the roof inspected in the last couple of years, start there.
• If the gutters overflow in heavy rain, clear them.
• If branches touch the roof, cut them back.
• If you already know about a small repair, book it now rather than next season.

Looking after a roof properly is mostly a matter of not letting small things run. If you want someone to look at yours across Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice or North Port, call (941) 926-1900.