A properly maintained roof provides decades of safety and durability. Here are the best practices to keep asphalt shingle roofing in great condition, year after year.
Why Should You Prioritize Asphalt Shingle Roof Maintenance?
You may not realize it but you have extremely high expectations for your roof. You need your roofing system to keep you sheltered, warm, safe, and dry throughout all four seasons. The sole purpose of your roofing system is to protect your home and everyone in it from the elements. So, in order for your roof to successfully shield you from every storm, it’s vital that you do your part as the homeowner and schedule routine check-ins and maintenance to catch damage early on. Maintaining asphalt shingle roofing is crucial for its longevity and strength.
The average roof withstands a lot of trauma over the course of its life. Inconsistent maintenance and skipping repairs can lead to your roof’s demise prematurely. The damage doesn’t happen overnight. However, if you allow roof problems to go untreated, before you know it, repairs are no longer an option and you’ll have no choice but to purchase a new roof entirely. It’s best to maintain the one you have, since purchasing a new one is obviously more costly than doing your due diligence to fx a few minor issues before they become major.
The Unique Characteristics of Asphalt Shingles
There are several roofing materials on the market, but asphalt is the most popular material for residential roofing. The driving force of their popularity is their high ranks in dependability. Not only do asphalt shingles stand strong against high winds and other factors of inclement weather such as hail and snow, but the surface isn’t easily penetrable either. As a matter of fact, some asphalt shingles feature the highest fire rating, Class A, offering excellent protection and keeps flames from spreading as quickly.
In addition to dependability and strength, asphalt shingles are also versatile in style. The material comes in many colors and can be structured in multiple ways that are aesthetically pleasing, providing curb appeal to most homes, and for a reasonable price. That’s another positive aspect of asphalt shingles—their cost-effective quality. Essentially, this material lasts long enough to offer the utmost value and reliability.
What Causes Roof Damage?
If your roof is more than 10 years old, it’s more than likely experienced some natural wear and tear. Factors such as constant changes in the weather, like roof expansion in the summer due to extreme heat and roof contraction in the winter due to extreme cold, is harmful to asphalt shingles. This constant expansion and contraction is called thermal shock, and it wreaks havoc on your roof’s surface, including splitting, cracking, and overall degradation. The damage incurred has to be addressed early on to keep it from spreading.
