You’ve just finished up with your team of new roofing contractors, and your roof looks good as new. In fact, it is new – you’re now the owners of a one-of-a-kind roof made specifically to fit your home. Congrats!
Buying a new roof is not only almost a rite of passage for financially stable adults, it also comes with more than its fair share of advantages. For one thing, you’re now better protected from the elements. Not to mention, you’ll likely have lower utility bills and a more energy efficient home!
As roofing experts, our team at Tony’s Lifetime Exterior would like to help you keep your new roof in the best shape possible, because knowing how to take care of a new roof is key to its longevity. And we have plenty of experience!
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- The top four benefits of a new roof
- The importance of roofing maintenance
- Five simple steps you should take for expert roof care
Let’s jump into more of the reasons why getting a new roof matters. Then, we’ll look at some useful tips for taking care of the new roof to ensure it lasts.
The Top 4 Benefits of a New Roof
Maybe you’re still considering roof replacement. Whatever the case, a new roof comes with benefits ranging from better protection to lower energy bills!
Which benefits are most important to your family?
1. Better Protection
Roofs are your first line of defense against rain, snow, wind, and heat. As they age, without the proper roof repair, they begin to fail in their capacity to do their jobs.
Leaky roofs can result, which opens the door for water damage and mold infestations. And, it’s not just water damage that’s a potential issue. You could also deal with structural issues or broken gutters.
By investing in a new roof, you’re investing in the longevity of your home. You’re keeping everyone in your household safer and giving yourself peace of mind. Good on you!
2. Lower Energy Bills
Leaky roofs have holes in them, and those holes can expose your attic’s insulation to the elements. When this happens, it loses its efficiency, resulting in your HVAC working harder to maintain your home’s temperatures.
Completely replacing your roof eliminates the possibility of these holes, which results in a happier HVAC and pocketbook. No one really wants to pay for high utility bills, so if you can find ways to save in the long-term, it’s an excellent way to balance out any costs of a newer rooftop.
As a bonus, certain roofing types, such as metal roofing, can do good things for your energy bills on their own. Many roofing materials offer better protection and insulation to help support your furnace or air conditioner. Ask your roofing company if you’re unsure where your roof stands in this respect.
Along with lower bills, most roofing materials today are energy efficient. While some are more so than others, getting a new roof usually means a more eco-friendly home.
3. Curb Appeal
While the inside of your home is essential, it’s easy to forget how wonderful it feels when the exterior is updated. A new roof gives the outside of your home a refresh and improves the curb appeal.
So, get ready for some extra attention from the rest of the neighborhood! New roofs make an aesthetic statement, especially if you’ve had a competent roofing contractor on the job or put quite a bit of money into a luxurious roofing type.
While neighborhood envy might feel nice, you no doubt also feel great about investing in your home and property. Revel in these emotions – you deserve it for making such a smart purchase.
4. Increased Property Value
Finally, if you ever plan to sell your house, a new roof is an ideal way to add value. The exterior will look better, and the added security and safety of a new roof is a plus to potential buyers.
So, while you might have had to pay for the new roof, you can likely make thousands more dollars if you decide to put it up for sale.
You can likely sell the home for more now than you could have before you installed the new roof, so this is just another added benefit.
The Importance of Taking Care of Your New Roof
Of course, now that you’re aware of all the benefits your new roof brings, it’s time that you learn how to take care of it.
While your new roof isn’t likely to need roof repair for a long time if it was installed correctly using quality materials, preventative maintenance is imperative, starting now. Beginning now prolongs your roof’s livelihood and gets you in the habit of providing the necessary care.
Think about it this way: if you adopted a new dog, you wouldn’t ignore it until it direly needed veterinary care, no? You’d schedule check-ups, feed and water it every day, and make sure it got enough exercise, so it lives a long and happy life.
While a roof certainly isn’t a living thing, its purpose is to serve your family by protecting it from the elements. If you desire such a service, taking care of your roof allows it to give it for a long, long time.
5 Simple Steps to Take for Roof Care
Good news: You’ve got a clean slate to work with. Because your roof is shiny and new and not dilapidated and sagging, you don’t need to worry about checking for damage yet.
For now, you should know that you need to take care of the following tasks.
1. Trim Back the Trees
We can’t stress this one enough! Wayward tree branches can scrape against your shingles, which causes physical damage and results in your needing roof repair.
Control arboreal growth and keep an eye on your trees during the growing season to make sure they don’t invade your roof’s personal space, so to speak.
2. Keep the Gutters Clean
Though they’re not a part of your roof themselves, gutters work with the slope of your roof to safely direct water away from your foundation and siding. Keeping them clean can help prevent the notorious Minnesotan ice dam from taking residence on your roof in the winter.
The presence of these nuisances causes standing water to crop up – something your roof isn’t designed to handle and can result in water damage to the innards of your home.
Ice dams can also pull shingles off of your roof, and you certainly don’t want to deal with roof repair in the dead of winter if you can help it!
3. Watch Out for Severe Weather
Though you can probably afford to relax about roof repair, for now, keep a sharp eye on the radar for any severe weather. High winds and hail can do a number on any roof, new or old, so do a thorough check-up once the nasty weather subsides.
4. Avoid Walking On It
While you may occasionally need to check a problem on your roof, it will last longer if you don’t walk around on it very much. If you have major concerns, it’s better to let roofing professionals check out the problem.
Not only does getting up on your roof lead to worn out materials, but it’s also a potential safety hazard.
5. Schedule Routine Inspections
While a new roof should be sturdy, you’ll extend its lifespan if you request service visits from the experts at Tony’s Lifetime Exteriors. If we installed your roof, we want to ensure it stays in excellent condition.
And, even if we didn’t, we are still happy to come out for inspections or any repairs. We can also inspect your gutters and keep them in great shape.
Contact Us for Expert Roof Repair & Replacement
If you have questions about your new roof or are considering getting one installed, Tony’s Lifetime Exteriors can help. No matter where you are in your roofing journey, we’d be privileged to help you out and offer our years of expertise and service-minded team.
Give our Sauk Rapids office a call at 320-252-9086!