The responsibilities of a homeowner are never-ending but they can also be an opportunity to learn some do-it-yourself tricks.
Your roof is one of the most important parts of your home to upkeep. While there are many things that you should leave to the professionals, there are some things you can do on your own to maintain the health of your roof.
Let’s discuss some basic roof maintenance tips that you can perform yourself.
What is Roof Maintenance?
Just like anything else in your home, your roof requires maintenance and care to get the best results. A neglected roof could cause damage to your home and need a replacement sooner than you’d like.
It’s always recommended to call a professional contractor if you know that you need repairs or a roof replacement. Still, there are many ways that you can clean and inspect your roof on your own to get the most out of its life and put off a replacement. Let’s dig into what roof maintenance can look like, including cleaning, inspection, and prevention efforts.
8 Roof Maintenance Tips to Keep the Roof Over Your Head in Tip-Top Shape
Tip #1) Keep an Eye Out for Leaks and Stains in the Attic and Ceilings
It’s a good idea to regularly inspect your attic for any leaks or signs of water damage that could be coming from your roof. Aside from seeing leaking water or puddles in the attic, you can also look for stains in the ceiling, areas of discoloration, or bulging patches on your interior walls. You can also make note if the room has a musty odor. These are all signs of water damage and should be inspected by a professional.
Tip #2) Check the Quality of Your Shingles
If you don’t feel comfortable climbing up on the roof yourself, there are a few things that you can look for from the ground with a pair of binoculars.
First, note if any shingles are missing. Look for any signs of damage to the shingles such as curling, cracking, or peeling. Any dark spots on your shingles could mean that granules are missing either from a storm or due to normal wear and tear.
Think your roof has sustained damage from a storm? Learn more about the signs of storm damage plus a checklist to use when inspecting your roof.
Tip #3) Keep Your Gutters Clean
Although it may be the least favorite task on any homeowner’s to-do list, there are many benefits to keeping your gutters clean.
Clogged gutters prevent water from flowing properly when it rains, causing it to seep into the structure of your roof and home. Water damage could create expensive issues on both the interior and exterior of your home and shouldn’t be left unchecked.
This is also a good chance to check your gutters for any debris or loose granules that could be coming from your roof.
Tip #4) Remove Debris and Moss
It’s important to keep an eye out for any green growth on your roof and remove fallen debris. Eventually algae or moss could grow and cover your shingles. Once moss roots, it spreads quickly and can cause shingles to lift. Moss can easily be removed by getting on your roof with some water and a scrub brush.
You should also remove leaves that have piled up. They can absorb moisture and cause rot. Leaves, twigs, and other debris typically pile up near valleys, skylights, and areas behind the chimney. Homeowners often ask how to keep leaves out of roof valleys. To prevent this type of maintenance, a gutter mesh system can be installed for these trouble areas.
Tip #5) Maintain Trees Surrounding Your Home
An easy maintenance task to protect your roof is to trim the surrounding trees. Debris from the trees can end up on your roof and should be cleaned off to prevent damage. During a storm or high winds, large branches could also fall on to the roof and crack your shingles. It is best practice to always trim the low hanging branches near your home.
Tip #6) Regularly Wash Your Roof
You should never use a power washer on your roof as it’s too much pressure on the shingles. Instead, you can simply use a scrub brush with water to clean problem areas.
Debris can either be removed by hand or gently swept away with a house broom. Algae can also be removed by using a half and half mixture of water and bleach. If left untreated, algae growth can create enough damage to your roof to need a replacement.
Keeping your roof clean is not only functional but can approve the curb appeal of your home as well.
Tip #7) Don’t Forget Your Chimney!
When you’re on your roof, inspect the chimney for any cracks or missing mortar. A chimney crack of any size could cause bricks to fall out and collapse the chimney. They can easily be patched by a roofing contractor.
The chimney is also important to inspect because any opening in the roof is susceptible to water seepage, and damage should be caught early to prevent extensive repairs.
Tip #8) Get a Professional Roof Inspection
With these roof maintenance tips, you’re in good shape to keep up with your roof on your own. But sometimes there are signs of more serious wear and tear that require a professional eye. It’s recommended to get your roof professionally inspected every one or two years.
An inspector will be able to give you tips for further maintenance. They can also catch issues that could be more expensive for you in the future.
Need Help Maintaining Your Roof? Call the Roofing Experts
There are many areas of homeownership where do-it-yourself maintenance gets the job done. With these roof maintenance tips, you can be confident enough to take care of your roof’s upkeep. But since the function of your roof is vital to the comfort of your home, you should get ahead of any issues and know when to get a professional opinion. Things like gutter damage, attic leaks, or other types of water damage should be inspected and repaired immediately.
Clean Roof Today is here for your roofing repair needs. Contact us today for a free inspection from our skilled contractors.
Having trouble deciding the best course of action for your roof? Check out: Should You Repair or Replace Your Roof? How to Decide Which One is the Right One
