The roof is the most essential part of a house; It keeps both the interior of the house and family inside safe and secure from exterior weather conditions. When it’s new, your roof is highly efficient… but, after a few years, that efficiency starts deteriorating. If you wish to extend the service life of your roof, you must keep it well-maintained and keep updating it as needed. By doing this, you ensure that the roof stays in good condition and can endure harsh weather without causing any damage to your house.
What are some important things to consider when updating your roof?
#1 Consider The Age Of The Roof:
Generally, roofs have an average service life of 15 to 20 years. If your roof has successfully completed 10 years and is approaching the end of its service life, it would probably need to be upgraded. In order to upgrade the roofing system, you can get its shingles replaced with new ones. This would keep the underlying roof layer secure and also enhance the look of the house.
#2 Get An Airtight Chimney Cap Installed:
Basically, masonry or metal chimney caps are designed efficiently, but might not be capable of keeping rainwater and debris out. Airtight chimney caps, on the other hand, keep debris away and help lower energy costs. If you are not familiar with an airtight chimney cap, you can ask your professional roofer(s) about installing one. Airtight chimney caps have the added benefit of keeping animals from nesting inside your chimney!
#3 Check The Condition Of The Flashing And Upgrade It:
Sometimes the flashing gets damaged by ice dams, and then you would have to install eave flashing. Eave flashing has two different layers which are called peel-and-stick bituminous membranes. These membranes are directly applied prior to shingling. The membranes are considered highly effective as they self-seal around roofing fasteners, forming a watertight seal over the eaves, which are the portions of the roof most susceptible to ice dams. Therefore, if you want to upgrade your roofing system, then go for bituminous flashing to protect the vulnerable or weak roof areas.
#4 Invest In Upgrading The Ventilation:
During the summer, the heat is so intense that the attic feels like a furnace. The air present in the attic areas might not be able to flow out properly, in order to give space for cooler air to flow. This happens because the attic does not have proper ventilation. If heat cannot escape, it makes the room below it/near it extremely uncomfortable. So, if you want to ensure that there is a free flow of air all around the attic, ask your roofing contractor to install a ridge ventilation system. This ventilation is more efficient than others and makes sure that the attic area remains cooler during the summer months.
#5 Use Energy Efficient Shingles:
Energy-efficient shingles can prove to be better than others. Choose light-shade shingles to maintain a cooler roof. Nowadays you can even opt for reflective shingles that come in a wide range of assorted colors. The granules present in such shingles are effective in reflecting most of the heat absorbed and thus the roof remains cool.
#6 Replace The Old Gutter With An Easy-To-Maintain Gutter:
If you have decided to update the roofing system then you should also focus on replacing the gutters as well. These days you can get gutter systems with built-in curved designs. This specific design makes gutters maintenance-free. It directs the rainwater toward the ground, through the curved hood while removing all the leaves. This is quite effective as it does not lead to any clogs or blockages. These types of gutters are available in a variety of colors, allowing you to choose a tone that will complement your trim, roofing, and siding.
Summary:
Most people ignore their roofs. You, on the other hand, know that a roof is important and needs to be checked regularly… and maintained. If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your roof, now’s a good time to do it. Arko is a reliable, professional roofing company that can check, fix, and/or upgrade your roof so it is most efficient and functioning as intended.