A roof is more than just a covering that protects your home. The materials and design of the roof can help to reduce energy costs, increase curb appeal, and provide a safe environment for you and your family.
Whether you’re a homeowner or business owner, it’s important to keep up with routine maintenance so as not to experience any costly repairs in the near future. A leaky roof can cause water damage and mold in other areas of your house, which can be costly to repair. Routine maintenance is the key to prolonging the longevity of your roof.
You should inspect your roof at least once a year and make sure there are no cracks, tears or leaks. If you are looking for some tips and tricks on how to maintain your roof, keep reading! Our blog post will cover a few different topics including: proper maintenance, what materials make up a good roofing system, when to schedule an inspection with an expert and more!
Here are five tips on how homeowners can maintain their roofs:
1. Regularly Inspect rooftop shingles for wear or damage
The first step is to insure that your roof shingles are in good condition. You should look for obvious signs of damage like cracked or missing shingles, stained areas, curling or buckled shingles and so on. You should also use a magnifying glass to examine the shingles for signs of wear. If you see any signs of damage, then it’s time to replace those bad shingles with new ones. Bad shingles can have a negative effect on your roof’s quality, as well as increasing the risk of a leak. If you don’t want to attempt this type of repair project yourself, we recommend hiring a professional roofer at this point!
2. Replace cracked tiles or broken pieces
If your roof has any broken tiles or cracked pieces, then it’s a good idea to replace them. This is true even if the damaged area isn’t leaking yet! Replacing these can prevent water from seeping into your home and causing possible damage down the road. You should replace cracked or broken pieces immediately to prevent water infiltration. To ensure a safe environment for your roof, you should also check the attic for any broken or missing vent flashing.
3. Check gutters for Clogs and ensure downspouts are draining correctly
Gutters should be cleaned regularly to prevent water from accumulating and causing damage. If gutters get clogged with leaves, twigs or other debris, it can cause water to back up and overflow onto your roof. This will definitely lead to serious roofing problems, so make sure that you check them weekly! You should also check downspouts to make sure that they are working properly by making sure that water is draining away from the house. You can do this by simply dumping out any standing water at the base of the downspout and then observing its drainage pattern.
4. Keep leaves from accumulating on the roof surface
Leaves and other decayed organic matter are a common cause of damage to roofs. They can be blown up there by the wind, but then they decay and start to break down the roofing material. This will not only lead to leaks, it may also cause unwanted stains on your roof!
So what do you do? Make sure that you clear debris from the surface of your roof at least once a year. The best way to do this is by using a broom or power washer. You should make sure that you remove any leaves before they begin to rot or grow mold – this will help prevent future headaches in the near future!
5. Keep drains free of debris by cleaning them regularly
The last tip is to keep your roof drains clear and unclogged. Not only will this help prevent water damage, but it can also stop unwanted pests from making nests in them. To ensure that drains are working properly, you should have them cleaned by a professional at least once a year. This can be a difficult job for anyone to take on, so we suggest hiring a professional for this task. If you cannot afford the cost of a roof cleaning service, you should at least buy an end extension that will allow you to clean out your drains safely.
Conclusion
The tips in this article will help ensure that your roof stays in shape for years to come. In order to keep it performing at its best, you should regularly perform these maintenance tasks! We hope you found these tips useful and we wish you the best of luck with your home improvement projects! For any further assistance, contact us today!