Year in and year out, the roof over your head takes a beating from winds, rain, snow and hale, while holding itself up to keep both your family and possessions safe from the elements. While most roofs are sturdy enough to last 15-25 years before needing to be replaced, at some point, wear and tear takes a toll and if not addressed timely, can shorten the roof’s lifespan. If you want to get the most out of your roof, take note of these common reasons why you need to go for regular maintenance and roof repair in Herndon:

Flashing
About.com describes flashings this way:

They are strips of aluminum or galvanized steel that are “…used to seal roof system edges, perimeters, penetrations, walls, valleys, drains and any other area where the actual roof covering is interrupted or terminated. The primary function of flashing is to help seal any voids in the roof system where water may enter making these prime areas for leak causes if not checked regularly… Weather and oxidization are the most common culprits for flashing deterioration but it is possible that flashing can just simply come loose.

When flashing components are loose, water can seep through the breaches and penetrate into the inner structures of the home, causing more extensive damage.

Missing or Damaged Shingles
Age may cause your shingles to deteriorate, but most damages like cupping, curling, or brittleness is caused by weathering. This is especially true of the south-facing part of your roof which has more direct exposure to sunlight, so pay closer attention to it. With missing or damaged tiles, rainwater or snowmelt can easily seep through the roof and cause leaks.

Moss and Algae
Does the top of your house look more like a lawn than a roof? Then you probably have moss and algae growing out of it. Far from being just an eyesore, moss and algae also retain excess moisture where freezing and thawing can pull apart or crack your shingles. These pesky plants also have a habit of growing at the edges of shingles, prying them out from your roof as they grow and expand.

Lack of Maintenance
Maintenance is an important factor in preserving the structural integrity of roofing in Herndon homes. Being that the roof is out of sight and inaccessible, and thus, more often than not, slips out of a homeowner’s normal concerns, roof maintenance gets neglected, which is a costly mistake. Without maintenance, problems become major headaches that will require roofing contractors like NV Roofs to fix.