Your roof is one of the key elements of your household. First of all, it’s what keeps your home safe, warm and dry. Second, the state that your roof is currently in, is a major determiner when it comes to the overall roof maintenance. Lastly, due to the fact that it’s such a dominant feature, it’s also crucial for the overall aesthetics of your exterior. All in all, the issue of roof maintenance is a serious thing, which is why you need to know how to tend to it properly. Here are four tips to help you out.
1. Inspect the roof
The first thing you need to do is tend to a proper roof inspection, which usually consists of getting up there and checking if there’s anything wrong up there. Even with a from-the-ground inspection, you can notice if there are missing shingles, if the flashing is loose, if fasteners are exposed or if the gutters are broken. Ideally, nonetheless, you would climb the ladders and check for yourself if there’s anything afoot up there. Keep in mind, nonetheless, that this is a task that should be handled bi-annually (ideally, in spring and fall). Then, if you’re in need of some roof repairs, you can assess the situation and figure out whether it’s time to call professionals.
2. Clean gutters
The functionality of your roof is greatly determined by the gutters and the flashing. Why? Well, because this is a part of the drainage system that directs and leads water away from your home. This way, it protects your property and keeps the place safe and dry. Still, gutters get clogged and it’s up to you to clean them. This too should be done bi-annually. Also, in order to reduce the average clogging ratio, you might want to prune any nearby branches. Leaves and wood chips (alongside pest nests) are the most common debris that causes clogging.
3. Check the insulation
The next thing you should focus on is the energy-efficiency of your roof which comes in several different forms. First of all, any holes or loose caulking are a weak spot in the armor that is your roof. This means that, during winter, heat will leave through these gaps, while in summer, the situation will be the same, only this time with hot air. With adequate insulation on your side (as well as some simple and inexpensive re-caulking), you can minimize this energy loss by quite the margin. The reason why this is so relevant is due to the fact that as much as 25 percent of all heat leaves your home via the roof.
4. Look for signs of moss and algae
Lastly, you need to focus on the issue of moss and algae growth on your roof. The reason why this is bad is quite simple – algae and moss retain moisture, which can facilitate the rotting process of your shingles. Fortunately, for this to become an issue, you need to neglect your roof maintenance for years and years to come. The best course of action is to notice these patches while they’re still tiny and brush them off. Other than this, there are some compounds that are specifically designed to be moss killer, however, these are best left avoided. Why? Well, in order to avoid polluting groundwater in the vicinity of your home.
In conclusion
As you can see, roof maintenance is quite a simple matter, however, you still need to A) develop a habit of tending to it regularly and B) know exactly what you’re looking for. Once you have these two issues out of the way, the rest is easy and the safety and integrity of your roof will be safe and sound.
Author bio:
Ayla Anderson is an avid reader and an enthusiastic blogger who writes articles on home improvement, business, Family and beauty. She is also an MBA student who spends much of her time giving advice to newly small businesses on how to grow their businesses. You can follow me on twitter