If there’s one thing you shouldn’t cut corners on, it’s your roof maintenance. We get it—most homeowners are too busy and preoccupied throughout the day and you just can’t help but reschedule your roof maintenance. The next thing you know, you’ve pushed it back for months and eventually forgot to do it altogether. When tragedy strikes one stormy night, you end up with water leaks and a flooded living room. A total nightmare, right?
If you’re anything like us at Roof Pro Local, we’re passionate about strong and healthy roofs. This involves routine maintenance to prevent potential problems and roof damage that will definitely not be easy on your wallet. So, to help you out with your roofing maintenance, we’ve put together a list of roof maintenance benefits and a roof maintenance checklist you can use as a guide once you finally get around to carrying out maintenance tasks to ensure your roof stays in good condition.
Let’s get into it!
Increased Roof Lifespan
If you want to increase your roof’s lifespan and longevity, you should prioritize regular roof maintenance. Depending on your roofing material, roofs typically last between 15 to 50 years. However, it’s possible to keep your roof functional past its expiration date by sticking to a regular maintenance schedule. By increasing your roof’s lifespan, you can enjoy the benefits of your roof for longer and avoid the need for a roof replacement (and an expensive one at that).
Home Value Preservation
Another benefit of following a roof maintenance program is that you get to preserve the value of your home. If you’re thinking of selling or renting out your property at some point, a roof that’s well-cared for is an absolute necessity. Aside from making your property more attractive to potential buyers or renters, you’re also investing in a potential increase in the value of your home over time.
Early Detection of Roof Issues
Proper roof maintenance helps you identify problems currently plaguing your roof. This includes signs of structural damage, faulty roofing systems, water infiltration, compromised shingles, water damage, and even minor issues that could transform into expensive roofing issues. When you identify these concerns early enough, you can prevent them from worsening and wreaking havoc on your home’s interior.
Curb Appeal
Have you ever wondered what your home looks like from the street? Well, your roof plays a huge role in how appealing your property looks and in improving overall curb appeal. With roof maintenance, your roof will look clean and well-kept. It will ensure that your neighbors don’t have to see any missing shingles, moss or algae growth, or discolorations that negatively impact the overall appearance of your home.
Energy Efficiency
A properly maintained roof can contribute to reduced energy consumption and lower electricity bills. Sealing gaps in the roof and repairing overall roofing damage prevents heat loss during the colder months of winter and increases the retention of cold air in the summer. This, in turn, means your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems won’t take up a lot of energy to regulate the temperature in your home. Additionally, you’ll also be prolonging the lifespan of your HVAC systems as they don’t get overworked due to a damaged and faulty roof.
Health and Safety
Regular roof inspections and maintenance are essential to a safe and comfortable home. You can ensure the structural integrity of your roof and prevent catastrophic events like collapsing roofs that could injure you and your family. A neglected roof can also lead to water leaks and mold growth that could negatively impact the indoor air quality of your home, potentially triggering allergies and other respiratory issues like asthma attacks and respiratory infections.
Compliance With Warranty Requirements
Many roofing warranties need you to properly maintain your roof for the warranty to remain valid. Having a routine roof inspection and maintenance means you’ll not only improve your roof’s health, but that you’ll also be meeting those requirements. Doing so can help you avoid repairs that would otherwise not be covered under warranty. Basically, by complying with roofing warranty requirements, you’re protecting your investment and avoiding unexpected (and costly) repairs.
Cost Savings on Major Roof Repair Expenses
Factors like severe weather and excessive wear and tear can trigger the development of bigger, more complicated roofing problems that would require major roof repairs. So, when you regularly check your roof and repair any existing issues, you’re preventing them from worsening and transforming into more complex issues and potential problems that would eat up both your time and money.
Top 8 Roof Maintenance Tips
Regardless of the type of roof you’ve got, this roof maintenance checklist can help you maintain the health of your roof and prevent any issues, ranging from clogged gutters or vent pipes to major roof repairs.
1. Regular Roof Maintenance and Inspections
We recommend performing regular inspections and roof maintenance at least twice a year. You should also implement seasonal roof care which focuses on protecting your roof from weather-specific damage
Start by inspecting the roof, then look for glaring issues like damaged shingles, missing granules, and stained asphalt shingles which could point toward underlying issues. Also, look for damage caused by sun exposure such as expansion and contraction of roofing materials, discolored asphalt shingles, and curling and warping of shingles. Once you’ve identified the issues, repair them or hire a roofing contractor to professionally address the problems.
2. Clean Gutters and Downspouts
Downspout and gutter maintenance is an essential part of your roof’s regular maintenance. Clear out objects like twigs, leaves, tree branches, and other debris that may be clogging your gutters and downspouts. This will ensure that the rainwater has proper runoff and avoid water damage and accumulation on the roof.
3. Check Roof Deck
Regularly check your roof deck and keep an eye out for signs of deterioration damage, such as rotting, sagging, and water stains. These seemingly minor issues could point toward other underlying issues like leaks and compromised support. Regularly inspecting your roof deck helps you identify and address issues promptly, thus preventing major repairs.
4. Check Flashing
Check and repair flashing to maintain a watertight seal around roof penetrations such as vent pipes, chimneys, skylights, roof slope junctions, and plumbing pipes (protected by pipe boots). Flashing is made up of metal sheets that direct rainwater away from vulnerable areas on the roof, thus preventing leaks. If you’re unsure about the process of repairing flashing, don’t hesitate to contact a roofing contractor.
5. Remove Roof Debris Accumulation
If you want to avoid roof repair, make sure your roof shingles are clean and free from various materials and debris like fallen tree limbs and leaves, as well as moss, algae, and lichen growth. Check areas like roof valleys, gutters and downspouts, and flat roof areas as debris is more likely to build up in these spots.
Debris could trap moisture underneath it and lead to the decay and deterioration of the shingles and other roofing materials. While a shingle roof is particularly susceptible to water damage from debris, other materials like metal roofs, tile roofs, and flat roofs can also meet similar fates if debris isn’t regularly removed.
Remember—avoid using a garden hose to remove debris from your roof as it can lead to water issues and make the roof slippery (and cause accidents). Instead, you can remove the debris by hand or by using roof rakes as well as blowers and sweepers.
6. Remove Ice Dams
You might also encounter an ice dam on your roof; this is an accumulation of ice and snow, creating a barrier of ice along the edge of the roof that can trap moisture and melted snow behind it. This can then cause water to seep into shingles, potentially causing leaks and water damage to the roof, attic, or house interior.
To remove ice dams, you can use roof rakes or heat cables. We recommend hiring a roofing contractor for this job as it can be dangerous.
7. Trim Overhanging Branches
It’s important to trim branches that hang over your roof to protect your roof from damage. High winds and heavy rainfall can cause overhanging branches to scratch the shingles and gutters. It’s also possible for these branches to fall onto the surface of your roof, which can be particularly dangerous for shingle roofs. As a preventative measure, it’s best to trim these branches with the assistance of a roofing contractor to ensure your safety.
8. Maintain Attic Ventilation
Proper attic ventilation regulates temperature and moisture and prevents issues like mold growth, wood rot, and water stains on the ceiling. Consider installing soffit vents to allow cool air to enter the attic, creating airflow that dispels heat and moisture through ridge vents and gable vents.
Final Note From Roof Pro Local
There you have it! We hope our list of benefits and maintenance tips can help you keep your home’s roof clean and strong.
You can either arrange a professional roof inspection and maintenance or carry them out yourself, DIY-style. However, for your safety, we highly recommend having a professional roofer do it for you as they have extensive experience and the best tools for the job, especially when dealing with more complicated and major repairs like a new roof installation.
If you need residential roofing services in the Oklahoma City metro area, our qualified Roof Pro Local team would be delighted to assist you! Call us at (405) 886-7663 and get a free estimate today!
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