After an inspection, your contractor is supposed to tell you all the issues with your roof, but this is also your time to ask a few questions. State Roofing & Exteriors, your local roofing company, lists below some questions homeowners rarely ask but definitely should.
How Long Can Your Roof Last?
The frequency of repairs can give you an idea of your roofโs remaining lifespan. The older your roof gets, the more frequent the repairs become. A contractor can give you a more accurate estimate.
Knowing your roofโs lifespan can help you prepare a budget for a roof replacement. As a rule of thumb, if your roof is more than 20 years old, youโll most likely need a roof replacement soon.
How Can You Extend Its Lifespan?
If your roofโs still in relatively good condition, it would be a good idea to ask your roofing contractor about the ways you can extend its lifespan. Each type of roof and roofing material has its own set of weak points. To extend your roofโs lifespan, you need to protect the most vulnerable parts of your roof.
In particular, you should keep an eye on your roofโs flashing. Wear and tear can cause cracks to form on flashing or strips of metal that cover seams and gaps in your roof.
Should You Worry About the Black Stains on Your Roof?
Those black stains are most probably algae, which are harmless, although theyโre a bit unsightly. Luckily, you can easily get rid of them using a pump sprayer and some bleach solution.
Remember only black stains, usually caused by algae, are harmless. If you see green streaks on your roof, you might have a moss problem. Moss retains moisture, which can weaken shingles. If your shingles donโt have any cracks yet, spray the moss growth with a bleach solution. This should dry up the moss in a week or two.
However, if there are already cracks on the shingles, we recommend replacing them as soon as possible. Just make sure to hire a qualified contractor.
Looking for an experienced contractor? State Roofing & Exteriors, a contractor with more than five decadesโ worth of experience, offers professional roofing services. To get a free estimate, call us at [company_phone] or leave us a message here. We serve homeowners in Tacoma and Kirkland, WA.
