For homeowners, properly maintaining your home’s roof is crucial to ensuring its durability and reducing repair and replacement costs in the future. While roofs have significant benefits of protecting homeowners from adverse weather conditions, raging elements and water leakage into a home makes roofs age. If care is not taken, damaged and aging roofs will allow leaks and mold in your household. Here are seven simple steps you can take to maintain your roof.
Perform a Complete Evaluation of the Roof
Different rooftops materials need different types of maintenance. You should identify the type of material on your roof, its age and when the last repair was made and why. A roof maintenance checklist will help determine whether it has been repaired before and how many times. This will help a homeowner avoid future damages and get excellent maintenance results. Newer roofs may have small gutter problems while an old rooftop could have critical issues like rust, cracks, and mold.
Clear Away Debris Regularly
Debris usually collects in the gutters and valleys of rooftops. As such, they cause clogging of the gutters leading to drainage issues. This may cause cracks and rusting of both the roof and gutter. Debris not only adds weight to the roof but also pools rainwater and snow. This can later promote the growth of mold and rot. However, a homeowner can clean and remove debris with their hand, leaf blower or soft brushes. You should avoid the use of pressure-washers and scraping as they can increase the damage to your roof.
Replacing Sealants
Most areas covered by sealants are susceptible to cracking, tearing and wear. Perform regular inspections to check the need for roof repair or replacement. In case of damage and deterioration, replacing the sealants will have an immediate effect. Most experts recommend that homeowners use high grade sealants for caulking pipes and vent areas. This will prevent water from leaking through your roof.
Clear Away Moss
A humid climate easily attracts the growth of moss on rooftops. Even though it may not be seen as disturbing at first, moss growth may lead to incredible roof damage. It will work its way beneath shingles for shade. It will then grow, expand and push up the shingles. There are chemical products that can be sprayed onto moss to break it down and later washed off the roof.
Inspect The Roof For Rust
If there are metallic parts on your roofing, you should to do a regular check to ensure that there is no corrosion. If you see rust, it’s recommended that you remove the rust using a wire brush. Also, paint all affected metallic areas to ensure their durability and help them keep their color. If there is too much damage caused by rust, the only option will be professional leak repair or replacement.
Trim Overhanging and Overgrown Branches
As you continue with your routine inspection, take note of the trees growing around your home. If loose branches are hanging near the top of your roof, they must be trimmed. Breaking branches can fall on your roof and cause holes or at the least, roof cracks. Falling leaves can also collect on your covering, collecting moisture and causing rotting of the tiles or shingles.
Hire Professionals
Hiring a roofing contractor at least once per year will ensure that you are having an expert check the status of your roof. They are knowledgeable about detailed roof maintenance programs and needs. A professional can easily detect damage, the cause, and provide appropriate solutions. Furthermore, roof work can be dangerous. If you are not comfortable climbing up on the roof, do not hesitate to call a professional.
The above pointers will help you to have a well-maintained roof. Routine inspections along with other roof maintenance tips will result in a sturdy leak-free roof. Should you need more information about roof inspections, please call your roofing experts and suppliers.