A new roof is a big expense. Most people want to put it off as long as they safely can. We get that. As a Sacramento roofing contractor, we repair roofs when a repair makes sense, and save replacement for roofs that truly need it. Here’s how to make your roof last longer.
Here’s how to get the most years out of the roof you have.
How to make your roof last longer
Keep it clean
Don’t let leaves and debris build up on the roof or in the gutters. Debris holds water. Clogged gutters can send water back under the roof edge.
Trim back trees
Branches that hang over the roof can rub against it, break shingles or tiles, and drop leaves into valleys. Trim them back before they reach the roof.
Keep the attic ventilated
A poorly ventilated attic traps hot, moist air. That can cause rot and wear out shingles faster. Make sure vents aren’t blocked.
Fix problems early
The longer a problem sits, the bigger it gets. Most repairs cost about $2,000 to $3,000. Bigger problems that are left alone for a while average around $5,500.
Tips for tile roofs
Many homes in the Sacramento area have tile roofs. On a tile roof, the underlayment under the tile usually wears out before the tile. Water gets in mostly at gaps along the hips and ridges, plus valleys, clogged drainage channels, broken tiles, and around walls, chimneys, skylights and pipes.
Most tile roofs need their first repairs around 15 to 20 years, especially when the drainage channels aren’t cleaned. The common 30 lb felt underlayment has no published lifespan from the makers. Most sources say about 20 to 30 years. In our experience it can last the life of the roof if you keep water out:
- Keep the drainage channels clear
- Replace broken tiles
- Seal hips and ridges early
A roof tune-up
A tune-up seals and patches the valleys, roof-to-wall areas, drainage channels, chimneys, skylights, pipes, ridges and hips. It usually costs about 30% of a new roof on the same house. It comes with a 2 to 10 year warranty on the areas we fix. See tile roof repair for more.
What about roof sprays?
Some companies sell sprays that promise to add years to a shingle roof. We don’t recommend them. Read why in Is Roof Maxx worth it?
When it’s time to replace
Sometimes a repair isn’t the best use of your money. A tile roof that is 30 or more years old with problems in many places is usually ready for replacement. See roof restoration vs. replacement to compare your options.
Roof Recovery is licensed and insured, and rated 4.9 from 725 Google reviews.
Related: Roof repair · Tile roof underlayment replacement · Roof inspection
Want to know how much life your roof has left? We’ll inspect it for free, take photos, and give you a written quote the same day. Call (916) 678-9786 or request a free inspection.
