Replacing your damaged roof with a new one can cost you a fortune and not everyone can or wants to spend $5000 to $12000 on roof repairs every few years. That’s a major expense for any home owner but you can avoid it and make your roof last 20 to 30 years straight depending on the materials used. Your safety more or less depends on the build quality of your roof because it can confront all sorts of harsh weather and environmental conditions. If left uninspected, it can develop a number of problems and keeping proper maintenance in check can dramatically extend your roof’s life expectancy. Stay ahead of roof damages by practicing regular inspection and cleaning.
Consider the following roof maintenance tips in order to keep your roof in great shape for years to come.
Remedy Problems Early
Rooftop problems often go unnoticed until the symptoms really start to show or you’re having to deal with nuisances on a daily basis. Rooftop maintenance is often an afterthought due to its location. However, roofs can quickly become the sight of serious damages before you even know it and it’s up to you to check it regularly for problems.
Whether you hire a professional to perform rooftop maintenance or do it yourself, It’s a smart move that can help you to get rid of small problems before they progress into bigger, more serious ones. Make sure to check your roof when seasons change, particularly after winter storms. Look for damages and other signs like animal activity and missing, curly or broken shingles. Also check corners and other areas for fungal growth, mold and rust.
Inspect your roof for leaks and look into flashing cover entry points which mainly includes the exhaust vents but don’t forget the chimney either. Carefully check the roof and see if you can find bent materials or structures, punctures and dried out or loose sealants. Even little changes or damages can lead to serious issues if you are not keeping your roofing system in check. Spring into action if you encounter any damages and seek the assistance of a professional.
Don’t Forget to Check Your Attic
To keep your roof maintained and well-protected, it’s important to inspect the structure that’s right below it. Your attic protects your roof from the inside and requires equal attention. To keep your attic secure, make sure it’s properly insulated. Moisture can lead to water damage if not controlled; regulated temperature inside your home and an insulated attic can easily combat moisture and vapors, keeping the underside of your roof protected.
Proper ventilation is also necessary to avoid unwanted damages. If you don’t have an attic fan, you may need to add one in order to keep the attic dry. This will also keep the rafters safe from water damage after rain.
Just like the exterior, inspection of your attic every once a while is a good idea. Carefully look for damages on the attic’s ceiling and also check for signs of damage on the walls and floor. Leaks are often not visible to the naked eye but you can identify the problem by searching for any possible signs of leakage, like mold and mildew. Pests in your attic can also lead to roofing problems down the line. For instance, critters are commonly found in the attic and can damage your attic and roof. It’s important to call an exterminator and get rid of them as soon as possible.
Remove Moss and Mold Growths
Humid weather and poor temperature regulation inside the house can lead to mold growth. This can be easily observed by discoloration and and visible black streaks on the walls. Mold on your walls not only looks ugly but is also very dangerous as it can lead to several health problems.
Gloeocapsa magma is the kind algae that causes black streaking on the walls. It is one of the most common problems that occur due to poor roof maintenance. Typically, black streaking does not lead to any severe damages but it cause the shingles to age prematurely.
This black coating and stains make your home look uninviting but you can counter the mold and moss growth using roof moss protectors like zinc strips, which prevents it from happening in the first place. To deal with growing mold, a range of roof spray moss removers and cleaners is available on the market that can be easily applied by homeowners. Make sure to read the instructions carefully so that you understand how long you need to wait for the solution to work properly. Be gentle when wiping or cleaning off the mold. Cover yourself adequately and wear a mask to avoid coming into contact with the mold particles. Use a brush or broom with soft bristles as hard ones can damage the shingles.
Other than cleaning products, a mixture of water and bleach can also be used to scrub the mold and moss off shingles. To prevent damages from the bleach residue, make sure to thoroughly rinse the shingles with water once the stains are gone.
Clean the Debris
When you see loose tree branches, leaves and other debris accumulating on your housetop, be quick to clean it up. Also make sure to trim the tree branches and foliage extending to your roof. This debris can affect the roofing system in many ways such as your roofing materials getting scratches, gutters getting clogged or shingles being punctured.
Other than the debris, many elements can clog gutters, causing water to back up in the attic. To keep your drainage system flowing smoothly, clean the roof at least twice a year, especially when the fall season is around the corner. Also look for damaged drain components and repair them as soon as possible.
Install Gutter Guards
To stay free from clogging and unnecessary gutter cleaning drills, install gutter guards; they’re extremely affordable and provide optimum protection against debris. These are specifically designed to keep water flowing and stop any debris from clogging up the lines.
While working on any DIY project, take care of your safety. For instance, wear a roof safety harness, use a sturdy ladder and always have someone nearby to help you out if need be. You can also use binoculars in some cases to spot the damages in order to limit the number of times you climb up and down your roof.
You can always check with your roof installer to see if they offer a maintenance program in case you would rather have a profession take care of it.