Your roof is one of the most important parts of your home. When it’s in good shape, it’ll be able to protect it from a range of issues, from water damage to foundational problems. However, it’s amazing how many homeowners forget about their roofs until they already see the water coming through them.
That’s why this new year, you should make the resolution to inspect and maintain your roof. When you do so, you’ll stop most major issues in their tracks and ensure that your roof is in the best possible condition. Here are the resolutions you need to make about your roof maintenance this new year.
Do Inspections Twice A Year
Firstly, you won’t be able to maintain your roof properly if you’re not checking in on it. As such, you need to ensure that you’re inspecting the roof at least twice a year. That time frame means that you’ll be able to catch any issues fairly quickly before they become a larger problem.
You’ll also want to do inspections if you ever have a large storm come through. As soon as it’s safe to do so, go outside and take a look at the roof, to see if there’s any damage that you have to address. If you inspect at this point, you’ll be able to correct the damage before it can lead to anything more serious.
When inspecting your roof, you can mostly do it from the ground. Using a pair of binoculars will help you see everything that way and keep you safe. You should also get into your attic to take a look from the inside, as this is important too.
Watch The State Of Your Shingles
One important thing you must be looking for when you work on your roof is the state of your shingles. These are the first line of defense your roof has against the weather, so you want to ensure there are no chinks in the armor.
When inspecting your roof, look to see if any shingles have taken on damage or gone missing. If so, look into having them replaced as quickly as possible. You can do this yourself, or you can have a roofer handle the job for you.
Trim The Trees
It’s not just the roof that you need to keep your eye on. If you have any trees that grow close to your home, you’ll want to ensure that you’re not letting the branches overhang your roof. This can lead to several problems, such as gutter clogging and branches damaging the roof structure if they’re pulled off during a storm.
As such, keep the branches pruned back, so they aren’t overhanging your roof and causing problems. If you want to be really sure that they can’t cause roofing issues, you can have the trees removed entirely.
Clean Roof Debris
There are all kinds of things that can blow onto your roof and cause problems, including leaves and branches from nearby trees. Regularly, you want to be sure you’re clearing this debris off the roof. A leaf blower or broom is perfect for this task. Don’t use a power washer, as this can actually cause more harm to your roof overall.
Don’t forget your gutters when you’re cleaning out debris. It’s so easy for leaves to fall into the gutters and cause blockages. When this happens, rainwater can start overflowing back onto the roof and if left long enough, start causing leaks in your roof. These are very simple to handle too, as you’ll just need a pair of gloves and a trash bag to start clearing them out.
Clean Off Moss
Once you’ve removed the debris off your roof, you may see moss starting to grow. This can happen if debris is left too long or you have a shady spot on your roof. If you do see moss, you’ll want to clean it off. As a growth, it traps water underneath it, and you don’t want water trapped against your roof for very long.
Many dedicated roof cleaning solutions are made for moss, so you’ll want to find one for your home and follow the instructions provided. This will kill off the moss and come off the roof in time.
Remember that you may see algae growing on your roof as well as moss. Unlike moss, algae isn’t a serious issue. It isn’t harmful, but you can clean it off if you don’t like the look of it.
Stop Ice Build-Up In The Winter
When the colder months come around, you’ll want to be extra vigilant when it comes to your roof. Heavy snow can damage roof structures, and ice dams can lead to all kinds of damage. As such, you need to find ways to protect your roof.
Try investing in a snow rake, which you can use from the ground. These are designed to pull snow off your roof, without damaging the shingles. That will help with the weight and prevent that snow from freezing into ice.
Also, if your roof isn’t insulated, now’s the time to look into it. During the winter, the warm air from your HVAC system will move upwards toward your roof. If your roof is insulated, it keeps the heat in. If it isn’t, the heat melts the snow, which then refreezes in the gutters and causes ice dams.
Finally, you’ll also want to check the ventilation of your roof. If you don’t have adequate ventilation, that can lead to ice dams, heat damage, and mold. A good roofer will be able to tell you whether you need better ventilation, so have them come and check your roof out.
If you stick to these resolutions in the new year, you’ll be able to keep your roof in excellent condition. It’s a lot easier to stay on top of problems if you’re checking on your roof often, so keep these tips in mind.