Roofs provide crucial protection from the elements, but to do their job effectively they must be cared for regularly. Routine inspection can catch issues before they lead to expensive repairs.
As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Here are some roof maintenance tips to ensure your roof remains in tiptop shape over its lifespan.
Clean Your Gutters Regularly
Clogged gutters do more than leave water stains on your walls and siding; they can actually do permanent damage to your roof. Without an easy path for rainwater to runoff, rainwater could seep under your shingles and enter your home, creating costly and serious structural issues.
Prevent this issue by keeping your gutters clean on an annual basis, clearing out leaves, pine needles and any other debris. Also ensure your downspouts have enough room to divert rainwater away from your foundation and home’s foundation.
Additionally, it’s advisable to trim trees and landscaping that is close to your roof. Overgrown vegetation may pose a safety risk and cause loosening or loss of shingles from falling off of the roof. Also, moss can form quickly on shaded areas of a roof causing moisture issues in your home; to have this taken care of professionally is best. Zinc and copper-containing products should also help with moisture issues on a roof.
Trim Tree Branches
Branchs growing too close to your roof can cause serious damage during severe weather, as well as block your gutters and collect debris that damages shingles. To prevent this from happening, trim any tree limbs which have grown into your roofing structure.
Be mindful to remove any suckers that form at the base of the trunk; these weed-like growths rob energy from more desirable branches and could weaken its support structure over time.
If your roof has an abundance of moss, mold, and mildew growth, consider using a fungicide every season to kill it off. Fungi thrive in shaded areas of roofs and can quickly take over their surfaces if left alone.
An essential step in maintaining a safe home environment is routine inspection of vent screens, siding or trim boards, holes in roof, and chimney cracks. Without regular checks to catch these minor issues early, they’re easy to ignore.
Inspect Your Roof After Heavy Wind
Maintaining regular roof maintenance, cleaning gutters (or installing no clog gutter guards) and trimming trees can significantly decrease storm-related damages to your home. Furthermore, regularly inspecting after storms allows you to identify problems quickly so they can be addressed before they escalate into major problems.
Check for missing, loosening or cracked shingles as well as damage to other components like ridge vents, chimneys, skylights and soffits and fascia. Also look out for moisture stains on ceilings or walls and discolored insulation that might indicate any issues on the roof.
Strong winds during a storm can whip up debris such as tree limbs, shingle granules, pine needles and other objects into your yard or on your roof and puncture or tear the roofing material, puncturing or ripping shingles off or puncturing holes into it. If there is debris lying around following a storm then damaged shingles likely exist; inspect both inside your home as leakage through roof can cause mold growth as well as wood rot.
Replace Caulk
Sun damage cannot always be avoided, but you can take steps to limit water leakage that might otherwise occur. Regularly check flashing around chimney and vent pipes, and replace any caulking that’s old or cracked; this task should be performed prior to each new season as weather changes can impact its expansion and contraction properties.
Roof cleaning should also be conducted periodically to remove dirt, mold and fungus that threaten the integrity of shingles. A solution containing chlorine bleach mixed with water may help eliminate algae growth which is common on composition shingle roofs throughout the country.
Your attic and ceiling should also be thoroughly examined for signs of moisture accumulation or leaks, and it’s wise to address them immediately so as to save both money in repairs as well as having to replace your entire roof altogether. If any such problems exist, fixing them quickly could save money over time as repairs and replacement costs become less significant – potentially saving thousands in total!
