How to Keep Your Roof Looking Good the Whole Year Through

Keeping your roof beautiful and damage-free doesn’t need to be a time-consuming, expensive, or frustrating job. With a little bit of preventative maintenance and occasional assistance from a professional contractor, you can rest assured that your roof is going to protect your home for many years to come. If the contractor begins talking “roofing/gutter lingo”, you may need to look up the terms in a gutter glossary so you know what they are talking about. Always be sure you understand the work they are planning on doing before they begin. You definitely want to make sure your roof is maintained correctly, so be sure to pay attention to it and give it the care it needs to keep your roof looking good.

Double Check Your Rain Gutters

Many homeowners don’t realize just how important rain gutters are, and those channels can become damaged or clogged in the blink of an eye. When a rain gutter is clogged or warped, it could quickly result in severe water damage on your roof as well as the walls of your home. In most areas, homeowners should plan on thoroughly cleaning their rain gutters and downspouts at least twice a year. This is a great way to keep your gutters clean and free of debris. You want to make sure of this because in the winter, ice dams can form and cause damage to your guttering and roof. Be sure to keep your gutters clean and free of debris, that way you will not have to worry about ice dams in the winter.

Trim Your Trees

Even relatively healthy trees might lose branches during a severe storm, and that debris can wreak havoc on a roof. In addition to cracking tiles and ripping up shingles, tree branches will also create the perfect environment for unwanted pests. As a general rule, homeowners should keep all tree branches at least 10 or 20 feet from their homes. Trimming smaller branches can easily be done with a few household tools, but you might want to call a professional arborist or landscaper for larger trimming jobs. This is a great way to keep your roof in good condition, especially if you have big trees in your yard. Trees that are close to the house can also be troublesome and may need some extra pruning and maintenance.

Quickly Replace Broken Tiles

A few broken or missing roof tiles might not seem like a big deal, but that damage could cause other serious problems down the line. That is why you must immediately contact a professional roofing contractor if you notice any issues with your roof. In most cases, cracked tiles and warped shingles can easily be repaired as long as you contact a reputable contractor right away. You want to make sure to get these sorts of things fixed up and taken care of as soon as you can. Do not let them lie and do not procrastinate.

Regularly Clean the Roof

In some areas, roof cleaning is an important maintenance task that should be completed once every year or two. Whenever excess dust or moisture collects on a roof, you might begin to notice mold or discolored tiles. Cleaning the roof is a relatively simple process that requires nothing more than a 1:1 bleach and water solution. After the solution has been applied to the roof and allowed to sit for 20 minutes, your roofing contractor will wash it away with a garden hose. Cleaning your roof is another great way to maintain it. If you have recently had a storm, there may be debris on it you will want to get rid of.

Your roof is one of the most important structural components of your home, and you should never ignore any signs of damage. Keeping it clean and well-maintained will reduce your risk of roof leaks, improve your home’s efficiency, and give you peace of mind.