When you own a house, there is going to be upkeep. Nothing stays new for long, but you can prolong the life of your home and its components by doing regular maintenance on it. This especially applies to your roof. As the top and cover for your home, it can take a beating from the weather, including sun, rain, wind and snow.
We expect a lot out of our roofs, taking it for granted to protect our homes. If we don’t give it a helping hand, the roof could require repair sooner than expected. Fortunately, roof maintenance is a pretty straightforward activity. You can restore the condition of your roof with a few best practices.
Here are some excellent roof maintenance tips to keep it in great shape:
Climb Up and Check It Out
You should do a regular, seasonal spot check of your roofing surface to ensure it is solid and free of any damage. Throughout the year, you will get many storms with rain and debris blowing around. Getting up there are looking around can spot problems before they get bigger. You can make repairs faster and save yourself the grief of finding a bigger problem down the road.
Always be careful when you are accessing the roof and use safety gear for fall prevention. Do whatever maintenance you can and call for professional help when you need it. With ongoing repairs, you will extend the life of your roof and prevent any major problems down the road. A happy roof is a happy home!
Clean Your Roof and Gutters
A good time to clean your roof is every three months or so. In the fall, when the leaves are falling, you can be more attentive, but it’s important to keep any debris from building up. If water can’t flow where it is designed to, it will find its path.
Clean out your gutters and make sure water is draining correctly down your spouts. If you have a flat roof, clean all the outlets and check all seams to seal them properly. Gravity doesn’t work as fast on a flat roof, so you have to check that it is free of debris more often. Contact a flat roofing company if you need additional help.
Deep Cleaning
Over time, algae and moss can grow on your roof. It is a natural process that occurs. Depending on the type of roofing material, it can degrade the performance. When you notice a buildup forming on your roof, you can get up there with a water hose and sprayer. Once a year, you should do it, but you can decide when it needs it based on your debris clearing.
For shingles and asphalt roofing, a pressure washer may be too hard on it and could cause damage, so try to wash your roof with a water hose and sprayer first. Use a mixture of bleach and protect any shrubs and trees below. For a more durable roofing system, a pressure washer will work. However, don’t spray too close to any edges as they could pull away and cause leaks down the road.
Be Aware of Nearby Trees
We all love to be surrounded by trees because they can add a layer of protection from the elements. Unfortunately, they can also contribute to roof damage. If you have young trees around your home, they will grow and start to contact your roof. Branches can grow towards the surface and rub or scratch the roof material and degrade it over time. You could end up with a leak that is costly to fix.
Trim back large tree limbs before they can intrude on your roof. If you are planting new trees by the house, give a wider birth so your home can be free from a coniferous handshake.
Inspect the Chimney
If you have a fireplace chimney coming up through your roof, it should be inspected as well. Make sure all flashing is in place and is sealed around the base so no water can find a way in. Get hands on the brick around the chimney to see if the mortar is degrading or any loose bricks. If there is, you need to make repairs before the next storm.
If you get bricks falling out, it can easily punch holes in the roof or loosen shingles. Those with experience can make the repairs yourself or hire a bricklayer to fix it up.
Check Your Ceilings and Attic
The last thing you want is to have a leaky roof. The sooner you find out, the better. Regularly check out the ceilings on the top floor for any discolouration or damage to the paint. Look in the attic for any signs of water damage as well. Use your nose during the investigation because sometimes you can smell the problem before you see it. Any musty odours are a sign of a water leak.
Once you find evidence of a leak, follow it back to the source or hire a roofing company to do it for you. They understand how water leaks work and can find where the water is getting in and repair your roof.
