Want to know how to properly maintain your roof?
Your roof is susceptible to damage during the changing seasons. Gail-force winds, icy temperatures, searing heat, and even snow can wreak havoc on your roof causing leaks and damage.
We’ve got your back, however. If you keep reading, you will learn 5 essential roof maintenance tips so you can keep a healthy and safe roof.
Table of Contents
1. Hiring a Roof Maintenance Professional
The first essential aspect of roof maintenance is hiring a professional roofing company, like Point Roofing, to look after your roof for you. This will allow you to rest assured that your roof is in tip-top shape all year round.
A roofing professional will give you an estimate of the life left in your roof, what kind of care and attention it needs, and how much it’s going to cost for any repairs and maintenance.
Roofers can get the best quality materials at the best prices. This allows them to make any repairs or installs at a more affordable price compared to doing it yourself.
Also, a professional roofing team is experienced at handling different types of roofs, and materials so no matter what the job may entail, they will be able to handle it quickly and efficiently for you.
2. Regular Cleaning
Maintaining a regularly cleaned roof will increase its longevity, as well as increase curb appeal. When cleaning your roof, there are two things in particular that you need to focus on:
Cleaning the Gutters
Avoiding cleaning your gutters can end up costing you a lot of money in repairs. When leaves and other debris build-up, it can cause blockages in your gutters.
When blockages occur, water has nowhere to go other than overflowing. This can potentially cause damage to your outer walls, and even pooling around the foundations.
Also, all of the built-up debris, sticks, and leaves become an attractive habitat for the local birds, squirrels, and rodents. They will often look to burrow into your attic, causing holes and damage to insulation.
Once there, these animals and rodents can be stubborn and hard to get rid of. This will end up costing you extra money to get a professional pest control company out to fix the problem and make sure they don’t come back.
Ideally, you should clean your guttering at least twice a year in the early fall and late spring. Keeping a regular cleaning schedule will make sure no nightmare leaks occur.
Cleaning Away the Algae
Your roof can get very dirty, especially when left for too long. However, not cleaning away algae that may be present on your roof may result in your shingles rotting.
To get rid of algae fast and protect your roof, you need to use a mixture of both bleach and water.
Just like your guttering, you should look to clean away algae twice a year. This will increase the longevity of your shingles.
3. Regular Inspections
When maintaining a healthy roof, it is also critical to hold regular inspections of both your ceiling and attic. Not doing so can cost you a fortune in repairs.
When inspecting your home, look for any signs of water damage, including:
- Water stains on the ceiling
- Bubbling walls
- Damp, moldy smell
- Mold on the ceiling and walls
It’s also critical to regularly inspect your roof shingles. To do this, you’ll need a ladder and a pair of binoculars to find any potential issues. Make sure to look out for any cracked, rotted, peeling, or missing shingles.
If you find any of these problems during your inspection, it is best to call a roofing company to further assess the situation and devise a plan to fix it.
4. Having a Budget Set Aside
To properly maintain a healthy roof, you need to set aside a budget for maintenance and repairs. That way you are able to get help if ever an emergency repair is needed.
The majority of roofing companies offer a warranty plan, which is recommended as they will cover any unexpected costs. This means you can sleep easily if anything needs urgent repair.
It’s important to also remember that it is more efficient to put money towards maintenance annually, rather than spending money out as soon as any damage occurs.
5. Keep the Trees Trimmed
Although the trees around your home may look beautiful, if you don’t keep them in check, they could become potentially harmful to your roof. It is important to keep the branches closest to your home cut to a safe distance.
Unkempt trees become a problem when bad weather rears its head. Heavy amounts of snow or ice can weigh down the branches causing them to snap and potentially fall onto your roof.
Ideally, you want to keep branches several feet of distance from your roof. However, it can be a particularly dangerous job to do, so please leave it to the professionals!
Want More Information on Roof Maintenance?
We understand that there is a lot of information about roof maintenance and it can often become overwhelming. We hope that this roof maintenance guide has helped you make sense of it all.
At least you now know what needs to be done in order to maintain the health and safety of your roof.
Did you find the answers you were looking for above? If so, check out some of the other articles on this subject and more in the construction section of the website.
