The roof isn’t something you would think of maintaining, like your furniture or your interior. If anything, like most people, you would not take a second glance at your roof until it starts leaking or worse. And when that happens, you are in for a surprise because roof replacement is expensive, especially if it’s a last-minute repair.
The good news is that you can avoid most roof-related problems through scheduled maintenance. Your roof protects you and your loved ones from weather elements, animals, and bugs, among other things. That’s a tough job! So, your roof deserves all the attention and care it can get.
Let’s check out a few easy-care tips for excellent roof maintenance.
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Clean The Gutters
Gutters collect the rainwater runoff, protecting your roof, walls, basement, and foundation from water damage. Unfortunately, every season, all sorts of litter ends up in your gutters. Clogged gutters mean rainwater can’t flow away from your house, which leads to a whole lot of trouble.
For example, rainwater can make its way underneath your roofing structure. When left unchecked, it can develop problems like moss and mold, causing more damage to your roof. Thankfully, regular maintenance can help you break this chain of unfortunate events.
So, be sure to get up on that ladder at least twice a year and clean the gutters. And if you don’t want to get your hands dirty, hire a professional gutter cleaning service like William C. Rott & Son.
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Check For Leaks
Another important tip is to identify and fix potential leaks. Even the tiniest leak can lead to serious moisture buildup that attracts mold, moss, and algae. When checking for leaks, make sure to inspect both the exterior and interior of your roof. The ceiling and attic are the most common places where leaks tend to develop.
The most common signs of a leak include moisture buildup, black mold spots, and sometimes moss and algae growth. If you see any of these signs, call a professional immediately. First, you will need to get rid of the water damage, then fix the leak. Remember, timely intervention is necessary to prevent mold and fungal damage from spreading to other areas of your house.
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Trim Surrounding Trees
Besides their aesthetic appeal, trees also provide you with shade and a cool breeze during the scorching summer heat. Research shows that strategically placed trees can reduce air conditioning costs by up to 30%.
However, branches hanging directly over or too close to your roof are a serious safety hazard. If a branch breaks down during a storm, it can damage your roof, not to mention injure your family.
Moreover, the falling leaves will accumulate on your roof, gather moisture, and start rotting. This increases your maintenance costs. Worse still, the rot can damage your shingles or roof tiles. The damage can be far and wide if ignored.
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Check For Mold
Those dark black spots in the corners of your ceiling or attic are a sure sign of mold growth on your roof. Mold, along with moss and algae, can cause significant damage to your roof.
Worse still, carried by the wind, mold spores spread quickly and silently to other areas in your house. So, the problem can fan to almost all areas of your home, from ceiling to basement.
Mold and moss can cause irreparable structural damage to your roof. To prevent the damage, you must nip this infestation in its bud. Here’s one way to do it.
- Use a mixture of bleach and water
- Spray the infected area
- Let it sit for half an hour
- Power wash it off
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Remove Snow
Ice dams are perhaps the worst enemy of your roof. They often cause costly and intensive damage, which includes:
- Torn out gutters
- Loosened shingles
- Water backup that drains into your attic
- Moisture buildup that results in moss, mold, and algae infestation
To prevent this damage, you need to keep the snow load down. With a roof rake, you can remove the snow from your roof. Also, ensure good insulation and ventilation in the attic to prevent excessive snow buildup. Lastly, call a professional roofing contractor to install roof heating cables (or panels).
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Re-Caulk Whenever Necessary
Roof sealant tends to wear off after a few years. Check your roof for potential wear and tear in this regard. If you see any cracks, you will need to remove the old sealant and re-caulk the affected area. You can take the DIY route. However, calling a professional is always a better idea.
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Get Professional Inspection
Most people recommend a DIY visual inspection of your roof. At least twice a year, you can look for the following damage.
- Curled up, loosened, cracked, or missing shingles
- Damaged or loosened drip edges
- Loosened or missing flashing
- Missing or exposed fasteners
- Sagging, clogged, damaged, or curled up gutters
- Moisture buildup or black mold spots
However, a DIY visual inspection is not the most reliable way to identify and prevent potential problems. A homeowner can’t carry out as thorough an inspection as a professional. You should call a full-service roofing company to inspect and repair your roof once a year.
Parting Words
As you can see, your roof deserves regular care and personal attention. Regular maintenance increases the lifespan of your roof, eliminates the need for unexpected repairs, and reduces overall repair costs. So, it is necessary to understand how to take care of your roof. Hopefully, these seven tips will help you keep your roof in excellent condition.
