4 Roof Maintenance Tips Every Homeowner Needs
Taking care of your roof doesn’t have to be difficult. If you can keep some simple maintenance advice in mind, you can prevent any serious issues from developing.
Trim Back Tree Branches
One of the most common and pervasive hazards for modern roofs is heavy tree branches. If there are any trees near your home that have branches growing out over your roof, you need to ensure that you trim them back before they become a threat. A hefty tree branch that is left to grow without any intervention can end up breaking off in a storm or high winds and potentially causing significant damage to your home.
You can still allow a tree to grow large, and if you prefer having your house in the shade, then you can use your treeline to achieve this. Just make sure that it grows in a controlled way and that’s no individual branch above your home is allowed to grow too large.
Regularly Check For Damage
If you fail to fix issues with your roof in a timely manner, even the simplest of problems rapidly snowball into something far more serious. It doesn’t take long to check your roof for any obvious signs of damage and fixing a damaged roof quickly can save you a lot of time and money in the long-run. Things like missing roof tiles or shingles can indicate that your roof has already suffered a serious blow.
You also want to keep an eye out for any algae and moss that is developing on your roof. If you notice splotches of bluish-green color on your roof, this usually indicates either moss or algae. Both moss and algae can cause problems on their own, but they are also usually indicative of something else being wrong as well.
Clean Your Gutters Every 3-4 Months
Every homeowner knows that they need to check their gutters and keep them clear of debris. If your gutter has become blocked and you don’t alleviate the problem quickly, it won’t take long for water and debris to build up and a backlog to develop. However, many homeowners make the mistake of only checking their gutters following the exceptionally bad weather. Lots of people think that if the weather is fine outside, then their gutters must be safe.
Irrespective of what the weather outside has been like, you should aim to check your gutters every couple of months at least. Even if the build-up of debris doesn’t look too bad, it is worth clearing any build-up while you are there.
Check Shingles Regularly
Missing roof shingles are one of the clearest indications that you have a serious issue with your roof. The problem might not be on the surface of the roof itself. Sometimes shingles become dislodged because of issues with the roof internally. However, irrespective of the underlying cause, any indication that the shingles on your roof are not secure should give you cause for concern.
If you stay on top of your roof maintenance, you can prevent any minor issues from developing into something more serious. You only need to remember a few basic pieces of advice in order to prevent your roof from becoming damaged or compromised.