For the many homeowners who are looking to sell their home in the near future, or perhaps a few years down the road, one of the most challenging parts of getting a home ready for sale is increasing curb appeal. Curb appeal is what attracts potential buyers to your home before they have even booked an appointment with a realtor. It is the first impression that people have of your home, which can truly make or break a house that is new to the market. Of course, obvious cosmetic issues like long grass and faded paint should be fixed right away. However, many homeowners never consider the effect that their roof has on the overall look of their property. When observing a home from across the street or when driving past, the roof is highly noticeable. Therefore, it is crucial to make sure that your roof is increasing curb appeal, not reducing it.
As a best-case scenario, a dirty roof looks reasonably acceptable from a distance, but from the driveway black streaks or stains can be very visible. This is especially true for light-colored shingles, as algae and molds are impossibly to prevent over a number of years and traces of these organisms are carried down the shingles with every rainfall, causing dark streaks. When these marks first appear, they are mostly a cosmetic issue. However, given enough time, these marks may become permanent and they may also wear out the shingles as they mold eats away at the roofing material. Potential homebuyers often assume that these streaks are due to the shingles falling apart. A roof that looks like it needs replacing is not an attractive feature for a house that is for sale. Considering that these black marks are very common in wetter climates, annual cleanings are a minimum for humid and damp areas or parts of the roof that are mostly shaded by trees or nearby buildings. In the event that your roof already has visible moss or excessive algae growth, professionals are able to remove these growths to showcase a beautiful roof.
Although mold and algae are unsightly, they are also very dangerous for the lifespan of your roof, which is why most potential homebuyers fear seeing anything out of the ordinary when it comes to shingles. A roof that is becoming worn will have shingles with curled edges and some shingles may begin to detach. Little bits of asphalt may even be visible on the ground near your home if the roof requires replacement in the near future. Growths accelerate the speed at which your shingles will curl and can make a newer roof look old very quickly. Considering that the roof is a major structural component of your home, replacing it can be very costly. With many modern homes, the roof is quite steep and large, with high peaks and very visible shingles. If the roof breaks down prematurely due to a lack of maintenance, it is one of the first things that a purchaser will notice and the sale price can be affected significantly. After all, the roof usually occupies 30-50% of the visible area of the front of your home.
If you have decided that your roof has seen better days and could use a thorough cleaning, think twice about deciding to do the job yourself. Roof cleaning, regardless of the type of roofing material, is not a simple task and many people who complete the jobs themselves get injured due to improper safety equipment or they void the warranty on their roof by using the wrong tools and techniques. A poorly cleaned roof can be damaged so severely that some sections will need replacement. Professionals make sure to use the correct tools and cleaning products to make sure that your roof looks brand new and that mold and algae have a more difficult time growing back. For example, asphalt shingles can be ruined if they are cleaned with the same type of pressure washer as a vehicle, which is what most homeowners have on hand. A high-pressure washer of this type can wash away the asphalt granules and make your roof look much older than it is. This is no way to improve curb appeal. For wooden shake or tile roofing systems, the roof can become extremely slippery when wet and the wrong tools can remove the protective coating that keeps your roof looking its best. Professionals can use the correct pressure and contractor-grade equipment and chemicals that restore a new look to your roof and therefore increase the curb appeal and value of your home.
Overall, a clean roof can make your home stand out among the endless numbers of houses for sale. A new-looking roof takes up a large part of the visible portion of the front view of your home, which is what most people will see before they ever look into purchasing your property. Shingles that look clean, well-maintained and in good shape give a potential buyer an excellent first impression about how well the home as a whole has been cared for. Hiring a professional ensures that the job is done right the first time and that no time is wasted once your house is on the market.