The average roof can last anywhere from 20-50 years if well maintained. That’s a lot of bang for your buck. When it comes to roof maintenance, there are a few easy tips to keep your roof looking great and lasting for years to come and avoid costly roof repair.
From trimming branches to keeping your gutters in check, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about roof care. Think of this as your go-to roof maintenance guide.
1. Keep Branches Trim Around Your Roof
When it comes to residential roofing systems, one of the best things you can do is to keep your tree branches trimmed. Branches growing into the roof or on top of your roofline can cause a lot of damage over the years. Branches that fall off during storms can do even more harm to your roof.
To help protect your roof from damage and leaks, keep trees trimmed. Have a professional come out and inspect your roof first. If trees are hanging too far over onto the roof, it’s time to have them cut back.
While your roofer can help remove branches, you’ll want a professional arborist to come and properly trim the tree. Tree trimming on a roof isn’t something you want to do yourself. Leave this to the professionals and you’ll rest easier knowing your roof is protected from damaging branches.
2. Clean Debris and Leaves off Your Roof
One of the best ways to protect your roof over the years is by keeping it clean. If too much debris, branches, and leaves are left on your roof, this can damage it over time. The weight of debris can also weaken the integrity of your roof.
To help keep your roof in the best shape possible, keep leaves and debris off. This is especially important after a storm. Branches, leaves, and even limbs may have fallen on the roof during a bad storm.
The cleaner your roof, the better protected your home will be. Have a professional come out to inspect and clean your roof regularly. It’s often difficult to see what’s up there from the ground.
3. Make Sure Your Roof Has Proper Ventilation
Just like a human being, a roof needs to breathe. You want to make sure your roof has proper ventilation. If not, you can be sure heat and moisture will slowly deteriorate your roof.
When your roof isn’t properly ventilated, it makes your insulation suffer. When your roof doesn’t have the proper ventilation, your insulation can’t be as effective.
The quality of your insulation also affects how well your roof holds up. To help keep your roof in great shape, make sure to use quality insulation. These two work together to keep your home protected from the elements and to maintain indoor air temperature.
4. Keep Up with Gutter Maintenance
Gutters have a huge effect on the quality of your roof. Gutters help to keep your home as well as your roof, safe and protected from water damage. If you haven’t had your gutters cleaned or inspected in several years, it’s time to do so.
It’s hard to tell how your gutters are doing and what shape they are in. If you notice a lot of leaks and water damage, your gutters could be compromised. Over the years, if gutters aren’t cleaned, debris, leaves, and branches could end up blocking water from flowing.
If water gets blocked in your gutters you could have a more serious problem. To help protect your home and your roof from damaging leaks, have your gutters inspected and cleaned regularly. This will help improve the lifespan of your roof as well.
5. Check Your Attic After a Storm
Have you been up in your attic lately? If the answer is no, it’s time to get up there and take a look. This is especially important after a big storm.
Inspecting your attic is something you can do yourself or have a professional come. If you never check your attic for water and leaks, this could lead to a bigger and more expensive problem down the road. Water damage isn’t something to mess with.
Weak shingles, a damaged roof, and water damage in your attic will eventually cause water damage and even dangerous mold in your walls and ceiling. This is dangerous to the health of your family.
6. Treat for Moss and Algae
If you see moss and algae on your roof, it’s more than just a cosmetic problem. Not only does algae growth ruin the look of your beautiful home, but it also can cause serious damage. This is an expensive problem if left unchecked.
In the summer months, it’s a lot more common to have algae and moss growing on your roofline because of the heat. A professional will come and inspect the moss growth and treat it with the proper products. They can also help prevent it from coming back.
7. Get Your Roof Inspected and Checked Regularly
A roof isn’t something you can fix, inspect, or replace on your own. To make sure your roof is in the best shape possible, always call the professionals. Your roof is too important to be left unchecked.
To help keep your roof looking great and well protected, have it looked at and maintained by professionals often. Your roof affects the integrity of so much of your home. Don’t overlook regular inspections.
Roof Maintenance 101
When it comes to roof maintenance, there are a few easy tips you can follow to keep your roof in great shape for years to come. If you don’t keep up with inspections and cleanings, you could be needing a new roof a lot sooner than you think.
To prevent needing a new roof and costly repairs down the road, keep up with your roof maintenance. For more home tips and helpful guides, check out the blog section. We have resources to help keep your home beautiful for years.
Read More: 5 Reasons You Need to Invest in Roof Maintenance ASAP
