A variety of responsibilities come with home ownership; yard maintenance, trash removal, and the roof over your head are just some of these.
Of all the things that need to be done around the house, the roof is often not at the forefront of people’s minds. Yet it is important to clean your roof to prevent other problems such as roof damage, build-up, and even mold.
1. Trim Surrounding Trees
Any tree branches that hang over your roof could pose a problem during storms or super windy days. Trimming branches that hang over the roof is a surefire way to prevent them from rubbing on the roof surface and causing a lot of damage.
With the tree branches removed from above your roof, it can now get dry after a rainy day and prevent mosses, mold, and water damage from happening to the shingles. Water damage will compromise the shingles and the supporting structure. The roof needs to be able to dry off to last as long as possible.
2. Clean your Gutters Regularly
Keeping your rain gutters clean can save you from having water damage all around your home. It can also make sure you get the maximum lifetime from your roof. Keeping them clear of debris will make sure they continue working properly.
Cleaning the gutters is an easy job compared to many other tasks, just use an air hose to blow out leaves and small sticks, or use your hands to pluck it all out. You can even hire someone to do it for you and patch up any holes that may have appeared in them too.
By keeping your gutters clean, you prevent moisture from building up in areas that could compromise the structure of the roof.
3. Check for Damaged or Missing Shingles
No one likes unsightly water stains on their ceilings or around windows and doors. If there is a leak, it should get fixed right away, as it will only get worse and weaken the roofing joists and cause wood rot in the attic space, or even mold.
Checking the shingles for damages after bad storms will help prevent major leaks from happening, as well as ensure the rest of the shingles won’t be damaged or compromised by the next rain storm. Regular inspections by an Orlando roof repair company can spot compromised shingles and fix them before the damage spreads to more of your roof and causes leaks.
4. Give Your Roof a Bath
This might sound surprising. All you have to do is give it a nice wash with a pressure washer – no soap required! Discolored shingles carry colonies of algae, which aren’t helping your roof any.
Getting rid of those little colonists is easy with a pressure washer at your disposal. Removing the algae will keep your shingles strong and fit for duty in the oncoming months of rain or snow.
5. Check for Damages around the Chimney
A damaged chimney can also cause a lot of hidden damage in the rafters and insulation. Having all the flashings around chimneys, vents and skylights checked annually will keep them from leaking into your home.
Inspection of the flashings should be done every spring after all the snow melts away and you can see your roof again.
Getting the flashings checked and repaired or replaced will save you a ton of money in the future. It will give you peace of mind knowing you can expect no problems in that department of the health of your roof.
6. Check the Attic Regularly
Giving your attic a check-over can help spot potential problems before they happen, especially if your roof isn’t showing any signs outside. Some leaks are not as obvious as others, and can easily be looked over when staring at a symmetrical row of black shingles.
Make sure the ventilation in the attic is all clear and in good shape, as excess moisture can cause damage from the inside.
7. Install Downspouts and Gutter Covers
Having a damaged downspout and gutter cover can cause some big problems. A clogged or damaged downspout could cause a backflow of water to your roof, giving it a chance to soak into areas that are exposed.
A damaged gutter cover could allow a lot of leaves and twigs to get into your gutters, causing damage and clogs during rough weather. In the winter, any water trapped against your roof can cause wood to rot, break shingles, and start to separate the roof. This will cause gaps and expensive repairs come spring.
8. Get your Roof Routinely Checked
Having your roof checked routinely by a roofing contractor in Orlando throughout the years will greatly decrease the chances of having unexpected problems pop up, and save you a lot of money.
Get your roof inspected by a professional after major weather events, or if you start seeing signs of a potential problem in the making. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
9. Check for Unwanted Guests
Having a pest inspector come by a few times a year will help make sure that you don’t have uninvited guests causing problems on your roof. Make sure there are no areas that a critter can get in and get comfortable. Vent covers can be attached to help deter these problems.
10. Check the Corners and Edges of the Roof
Checking every inch of your roof is important, which means the corners are important too. Rainwater will drip off from these spots, so any holes or soft areas will easily take in water. Patching up these holes and replacing weakened areas will ensure no water gets into your attic.
Conclusion
Regular and routine maintenance on your roof can help the longevity of your investment. If you’re unsure of how to do any of these things yourself or are not able to then call in a local professional to get the job done for you. It may cost a little to hire a trained roofing professional, but it will prevent you from spending thousands of dollars in the future if a problem were to happen.