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A roof is an essential part of your home – in fact, your home will never be complete without it. The roof can improve the aesthetics of your home and property while protecting you, your family and valuables from harsh weather conditions. It’ll also keep certain elements from going into your home. Everything and everyone will be safe and sound inside your home with a good roof. However, no matter how durable your roof is, its longevity isn’t unlimited. Time will come that it will require repairs and replacements. Fortunately, as a homeowner, there are a lot of ways on how you maintain your roof in order to extend its longevity. The more time and effort you exert in maintaining your roof, the longer it’ll work for your home.
Your home is your investment, and this includes your roof, too. This is probably the reason why, as much as possible, you would want your roof to last for the longest time possible. Buying a new roof is not only costly but time-consuming and stressful as well. To help you steer away from experiencing that kind of situation, pay attention to the following tips listed below: (See also: What Are The Things You Must Observe When Replacing Your Roof)
1. Start with a clean slate.
The entire idea of roof maintenance can be a dilemma especially if you don’t have any idea when and how you can actually do it. Fortunately, you don’t have to take on this responsibility alone – there are professionals who can help you out or completely do the job for you. Companies like Klaus Roofing offer services to address all of your roofing needs – from maintenance, repair, and replacement, they can do it.
If you want to start off with the right foot with your roof maintenance efforts, call them first. Let them visit your home so they can conduct a professional roof inspection. With their experience and training, they can give you a bird’s eye of the condition of your roof. They can detect if there are any existing problems in your roof and recommend solutions. The earlier these roofing problems are addressed, the lesser costs you’ll have to pay.
2. Try not to go overboard with the trees in your property.
Trees provide a long list of benefits. They don’t only help conserve the environment, but they also improve the aesthetic value of your home and property. With a well-maintained landscape with trees all over, your home will surely catch the attention of everyone from your neighborhood. Sure, trees might be helpful, but it’s also important that you pay attention to its growth and condition. If you have big trees in your backyard, regularly trim off its branches. Depending on the kind of tree you have right now, you might schedule tree trimmings with the professionals at least twice a year.
Trees with leaning branches can scratch your roof which can lessen the strength and durability of its materials. For bigger trees, its branches can even scrape off a few shingles on your roof. Regular trimming can prevent all of these from happening.
3. Remove anything that doesn’t belong to your roof.
Different weather conditions can bring different debris in your roof. For instance, branches and leaves can get stuck during windy seasons of the year. These can build up over time and can cause significant damage on your roof. As a homeowner, cleaning your roof and gutters should be on top of your to-do list. You can start by making sure that down sprouts aren’t discharged in the roof surface. Gutters should also be cleaned out as anything stuck here can destroy your roof shingles, tiles, and shakes. Any debris can hold moisture which can result to mold and moisture, eating up away the material in your roof.
4. Cross off the power wash option on your list.
Most homeowners opt to use power washing because it’s an easy and fast way of cleaning their roofs. Power washing can eliminate the process of going into every nook and corner of the roof by simply using pressure. You’ll just have to position the power washer to the area you want to clean and let the pressure do everything for you. However, there are a lot of risks involved in this process.
The pressure from the power washer can drive in water under your shingles and tiles, creating a path for future problems. This kind of damages can remain unseen until the problem is in the worse possible condition. If you want to clean your roof in a faster and easier way, hire professionals instead. This option is a lot safer for your roof than power washing.
5. Replace any missing roofing materials as soon as possible.
As mentioned, you can never warrant that your roof will work forever. Since it’s exposed to different weather conditions and debris, it’ll be damaged over time. To prevent things from getting worse, replace all any missing roof materials right away. If your roof uses shakes, shingles or tiles, take time to inspect these and determine if any areas need repair. Leaving a single weak spot on your roof can give access to water leaks, rotting, mildew, and mold, causing more damage to your home.
6. Pay heed to any warning signs of roof damage.
Just because your roof is protecting your home from harsh weather conditions and theft, doesn’t mean that it’s in tiptop shape. Most often than not, there are signs which tell you that your roof needs repairs and replacements – and as a homeowner, you should be wary to all of these. Pay close attention to any rodents in your roof, shingles on the ground or sound of hail. These are some of the most common signs that your roof needs professional repair or replacement.
7. Never allow pests to live in your roof.
Your roof is made up of different materials. Collectively, all of these materials provide durability to your roof. However, using the same type of roof for decades can make it susceptible to pests such as termites and small animals. And once they’re already living in your home (usually on your attic), they will chew on your roof as if their daily supply of food. Sure, you might argue that these pests are small and can’t possibly damage your humungous roof, but you’re wrong. Over time, these pests can multiply, making it easy for them to destroy your roof and consume it entirely.
8. Avoid walking on your roof.
It might be weird, but a lot of people love waking on their roofs. This is especially true for people who have homes situated in the middle of beautiful scenery such as meadows and ocean. Doing this might be relaxing for you, but for your roof, it’s the complete opposite. Walking on your roof regularly can damage the shingles and shakes, no matter how careful you might be. Additionally, walking on your roof can be very risky, so it’s about time that you finally skip doing this.
9. Leaks aren’t small problems.
One of the most basic functions of a roof is to keep the elements out and protect the interiors of your home. So if you’re starting to see any roofing leak, you should be worried. A leaking roof is a major problem as it can signify that your roof isn’t durable and strong anymore, causing water to seep in its materials. Regularly check for any roofing leaks in your home so you’ll have an idea on the condition of your roof. This task is pretty simple, all homeowners can do it. Unlike other roof maintenance tactics which will require you to go out of your house and climb your home, checking for leaks will only require one thing from you – to look up.
10. Always call professional help whenever needed.
Regardless of how long you’ve been a handyman, you can never fix all of your roofing problems. In fact, you might even cause more harm than good whenever you try to fix all of these on your own. Once you notice that there is something wrong with your roof, immediately call professionals. Injecting DIY solutions can create more significant problems and can lead to more costs and stress.
As one way of ensuring that you’re able to hire a roofing contractor who fits the bill, start scouting for options right away, not when you desperately need professional help. Have at least three on your list, reach out and inquire about their products and services. Make necessary comparisons so you’ll end up with a roofing contractor who can provide quality service without an expensive price tag.
Think Long-Term
It’s a common misconception for many that roof maintenance is a daunting and sometimes, costly task. For a homeowner with a lot on their plate, roof maintenance might be something on the bottom of their to-do list. While all of these might be true, it still doesn’t erase the fact that roof maintenance is also vital to your home. A damaged roof which can cause injuries to your family or damage to your home is one of the last things you want to think about. Invest in maintaining your roof so none of these will happen – plus, you’ll be able to make use of your roof for more years which can lead to more savings.
About The Author:
Jan is an independent writer and can usually be found reading a novel, and that will more often than not be an emotive thriller. When not absorbed in the latest clenching page-turner, Jan loves barbecuing, sings very badly, enjoys riding her Vespa out and about, and otherwise spends far too much time at the computer.
