Your roof is an essential part of your home. Comparatively speaking, it takes the least amount of time to build, but tends to cause the most problems over time. That’s why preventative roof maintenance is so important. When you’re proactive about your roof care, you can eliminate many expensive problems and help elongate the life of your roof. In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about preventative roof maintenance.
Preventative roof maintenance covers everything from roofing inspections, minor repairs, roof cleaning, and the occasional addition of a layer of protective coating. Because of the nature of roofing details, it can be risky to tackle roof maintenance as a regular weekend DIY project. You need to know what to look for and how to properly repair things without sacrificing the integrity of your roof. While there are a few preventative measures that are easy to handle on your own, we recommend hiring a trusted professional to handle everything else.
As we mentioned, there are a lot of things that often go unnoticed to the untrained eye. Hiring a professional will help eliminate the chances that you miss any indication of repair or replacement before it gets too expensive. This is even more important when talking about commercial roofs. Luckily, there are a few different plan options that most professional roofing companies offer.
To get the most out of any maintenance plan, it’s recommended that you receive biannual service—once in the spring and once in the fall. During this time, a full visual inspection should take place followed by any recommended cleaning, maintenance, and minor roof repairs. Talk to your roofing contractor to find a plan that works well with your budget.
If you have a warranty for your roof, it’s even more important to have a maintenance plan in place. Most warranties are void if you don’t take the proper care of your roof as per outline in the warranty. Take the time to read your warranty so you know exactly what you need to do to make sure it stays valid. The main difference between having a warranty and getting a roof maintenance plan is simple: warranties do nothing to elongate the life of your roof, maintenance plans do. Having a professional team inspect your roof yearly, at the very least, will help identify and fix any problems before they become too extreme.
To get the most out of your preventative roof maintenance, there are a few things you can do. Stay organized, have your preferred professional roofing company’s information on file, and follow these hassle-free tips.
While professional servicing is recommended, there are still some preventative measures to take your roof care to the next level. If at any time during the following you need help, or find a deeper problem, always stop what you’re doing and call a professional. Making sure repairs are done correctly is essential to keeping your roof safe.
While many people think that winter takes the biggest toll on your roof, summer can be just as bad. Hot, humid weather paired with sun exposure is just as hard on your shingles as cold, icy weather. That’s why it’s important to make thorough inspections regularly, not just once after the snow has melted. If you live in an area that’s prone to severe weather, you’ll need to make inspections more often.
One major thing to keep an eye out for is missing or damaged shingles. These are easy to spot and make your roof vulnerable when left unfixed. If you notice any signs of damage, call a professional roofing company like Advocate Construction to come and tackle the problem.
Your roof is susceptible to moss, lichen, and algae growth—all of which do more than cause an unsightly appearance. The growth of any of these can actually do some extensive damage to your roof. Instead of letting moss, lichen, and algae take over, make sure you treat your roof and remove any signs of moss growth early on. There are many preventative products you can use to avoid moss growth, so talk to your roofing professional about adding them to your biannual inspection and preventative maintenance plan.
Your gutters help divert water off and away from your roof. This also helps keep your home’s foundation in good condition. When water pools up in the gutters due to debris blockage, it will eventually overflow and can lead to damage. The increased weight of debris and flooding is a major cause of gutter damage, which is why you should never ignore gutter maintenance. Instead, make it a habit to clean your gutters regularly, especially in the fall months or after any intense storms.
Removing debris from your gutters will help keep them working properly, but you will also need to remove leaves and debris from the surface of the roof itself. This will help you avoid gutter-blockage while simultaneously reducing the chances that you’ll have to deal with moss, lichen, or algae growth. As an added bonus, removing debris will help boost curb appeal and reduce the chances that anything causes excess damages.
If you want to reduce the debris that accumulates both in your gutters and on your roof, you need to keep your landscaping in check. Take the time to regularly trim any low hanging branches that are near or level with your roof. This helps you protect your home from any damages caused by debris—especially during particularly intense storms. If you live in an area that regularly experiences strong winds, keeping your tree branches trimmed will result in less breakage that could impair your roof.
One part of DIY roof inspections that often go overlooked is the attention to flashings. Flashing lines your chimney and pipes and works to reduce the chances of leaks developing. If your flashing is damaged in any way, leaks will occur and we all know how much damage that can cause. To avoid expensive repairs, make sure you check your flashing regularly for signs of wear and tear. If it looks like any caulk is missing or damaged, it might be time to replace the caulk. If you’re not sure how to do this correctly, call your professional roofing company.
Attics should be properly insulated so that your energy bills are consistent and any snow accumulation can melt without causing ice dams. Check your attic and see what your insulation levels are like. Most homes don’t have proper insulation, as they don’t check it on an annual basis. However, if your attic isn’t well insulated, you are more likely to experience the damage that winter weather can do to your roof. During a full professional inspection, your roofing company will inspect your attic insulation to make sure you’re well equipped to handle any weather.
Intense, long-term sun exposure can do just as much, albeit different, damaged as strong winds. Strong UV rays cause the protective layer of oils in your roof to escape and leaves your roof vulnerable. Talk to your professional roofers about adding on a protective coating to mitigate the effects of sun exposure.
One of the best ways to prolong the life of your roof is by investing in a professional maintenance plan. Preventative measures are always the best way to mitigate expensive repairs or roofing replacements. Even if you don’t experience any major problems, annual inspections will help you catch minor things early. Plus, having a professional will help speed up your roofing maintenance and save you money in the long run. Remember, routine inspections are key to preventative maintenance, so call the professionals at Advocate Construction today. All of our team members have the experience and expertise you want and need for detailed roof inspections and maintenance. If anything shows up in the inspection, our experienced Milwaukee roofing contractors from Advocate Construction will make sure your repair job is done efficiently and with complete transparency. We pride ourselves on working with integrity and longevity in mind. To contact an experienced roofing contractor from Advocate Construction, give us a call today at (414) 386-3900. You can also reach out to our customer service hotline, 833-409-ROOF (7663).