One of the most important factors that you should consider when it comes to maintaining your roof is regular inspections. These checks can help lengthen the life of your roof and prevent costly repairs. To help keep your roof in good condition, we have listed down some of the most important maintenance tips that will help extend its lifespan.
Although your roof is designed to withstand various types of storms, it can get damaged due to wear and tear. Having the proper protection can help prevent this from happening to your roof.
1. Inspect the Shingles
Although it’s important to regularly inspect your roof, it’s also important to note that other factors such as ultraviolet light can affect it. This can cause your roof to get damaged. Having the proper protection can help lengthen the life of your roof.
2. Trim Overhead Branches
Before the winter sets in, you must trim the branches of your trees to prevent them from getting damaged. Doing so can help prevent branches from getting dislodged from the tree and landing on your roof and causing structural damage.
3. Unclog Your Gutter System
Getting rid of debris in your gutters is necessary to prevent them from getting damaged. Water collected in your gutters can cause the support beams and roof to get damaged. This can lead to costly repairs. Before the spring and fall seasons, you must clean out your gutters.
4. Pay Attention to Moss
Although moss can add a beautiful element to your roof, it can also cause it to get damaged. Once it gets established between the shingles, it can gradually lift and shrink the roof, allowing water to enter. Moss can also cause wood rot and leaks to appear on your roof. To keep it from getting damaged, you must regularly clean moss away. You can hire a professional to remove it by scrubbing it away. You can also apply zinc sulfate granules on your roof once a month to keep moss at bay.
5. Ventilate and Insulate Roof
Having the proper ventilation and insulation in your attic can help prevent excess moisture from entering your home and causing rot. It is highly recommended that you have your attic thoroughly inspected to make sure that it has the proper amount of insulation.
Many people are surprised to learn that their attic can also get “sweaty.” This is because warm air can seep into the plywood of the roof and cause it to become damp. To prevent this, make sure that the vents are properly opened. Having the proper amount of air can also help prevent ice dams.
If your roof is not properly ventilated, it can allow hot air to escape through your attic, which can cause your home to get even hotter in the summer. Having the proper amount of air can help keep your home cool. Not only will it allow you to save money on your electric bill, but it can also help prevent your AC unit from working harder to keep the house cool.
6. Prevent Ice Dams
After a heavy snowfall, your roof can become susceptible to ice dams. The warm air in the attic can help melt the snow, which then refreezes as it reaches the colder parts of the roof. Once this happens, additional meltwater can seep through the roof and cause peeling paint and staining on the walls and ceiling.
To prevent ice dams from forming, it’s important that you have your attic thoroughly inspected and re-ventilated. Doing so will help keep the air inside the attic as cool as possible during the winter season.
7. Caulk the Flashings
The flashings are strips of metal that run along the sides and edges of your roof. They are usually made of lead or aluminum and are designed to divert water away from certain areas, such as the areas where kitchen and bathroom pipes extend through the roof. Are you searching for the best living room furniture click here?
When used properly, the flashing can prevent water from entering the valleys, walls and roofs of other structures, such as chimneys and skylights. However, if it gets stuck, it can potentially cause the protection to fail. To prevent this, try applying a layer of caulk around the area where the flashing has become stuck.
Despite the various weather conditions that happen throughout the year, your roof remains one of the most resilient structures in the house. As it gets older, it can start to show signs of damage that needs to be taken care of quickly.