12 Simple Steps to Avoid Costly Roof Repairs
Maintaining your roof is one of the joys of home ownership, and while it may seem fairly simple to care for, there are a few things you need to know.
Your home's roof is its first line of defense against the elements, protecting everything beneath it from rain, snow, sun, and wind. Regular maintenance extends the life of your roof and helps prevent costly repairs and potential water damage to your home's interior.
From simple visual inspections to professional assessments, understanding the basics of roof maintenance can save you time, money, and stress in the long run. Whether you have asphalt shingles, metal roofing, or clay tiles, a well-maintained roof is essential for preserving your home's structural integrity and peace of mind.
1. Watch Your Landscaping
Having trees on your lot is great, but failing to trim the branches can damage your roof. Trees too close to your home require periodic monitoring so they don't grow out of control. You can hire a landscaping professional to trim them back as needed.
If branches and limbs are broken off and deposited on your roof during inclement weather, it's essential to get them off the roof asap to avoid problems.
Animals in the great outdoors are great. But you don't want them on your roof or, even worse, in your home by way of the roof.
2. Clean Your Gutters
It's a good idea to clean out the gutters at least twice annually — typically in the spring and fall seasons. You might need to increase the frequency if you have trees close to your home.
Leaves, branches, pine needles, pine cones, dirt, and debris can clog your gutters and downspots. That can cause pooling near your home's foundation and damage your roofing system.
3. Shovel Snow Off Your Roof
If living in an area that gets lots of snow during the winter, you must prioritize shoveling your roof after a major dumping of the white stuff. Failing to do that could jeopardize your roof — especially if ice dams develop.
Ice dams happen when snow on your roof melts because of heat exiting your home, refreezes, and creates a buildup that blocks melted snow from draining through the gutters. Unrectified, that problem can cause untold damage to your roofing system.
4. Call a Roofing Company for an Inspection
An annual roof inspection is a good rule of thumb. A reputable roofing professional will visit your home, climb onto your roof, assess its condition, and make any recommendations if there's a need for maintenance and repairs.
A thorough inspection can be one of the best investments to safeguard the longevity of your roofing system.
While an annual inspection makes sense, there are times when you'll need to make it more than a once-per-year affair.
5. Remove Mold, Moss, and Algae
Allowing mold, moss, or algae to grow and thrive on your roof isn't just an aesthetic letdown. It can damage your roofing system by, among other things, preventing proper water drainage off your roof.
Remember that untreated moss, mold, or algae can eventually penetrate beneath the roofing system and dislodge the shingles.
6. Check the Flashing and Caulking
Don't forget to check the caulking and flashing — something a roofer will assess during annual roof inspections. Roof flashing facilitates water drainage off the roof, and this material is typically installed around vents, chimneys, and skylights.
You should also check the caulking. It helps seal your roof, affords waterproofing, and facilitates energy savings. But, like the flashing, it will deteriorate over time. So, it must be checked periodically.
7. Seal Your Roofing System
Remember that even a long-lasting roof won't last as long as it should if you don't perform proper maintenance.
One of the worst roof-related problems is leaks. They can cause homeowners untold grief and cost an arm and a leg to rectify — especially if not fixed pronto. You can reduce the odds of this nightmare scenario by periodically sealing your roof.
A roofing company can apply roof sealant if your aging roofing system loses some of its ability to prevent water intrusion. It's the sort of investment that is relatively small compared to the cost of replacing a damaged roof.
8. Stay Off the Roof
While being a DIYer can save money, some tasks are best left to the pros. The last thing you want is to suffer a serious injury — or worse — and end up a statistic.
But that's one possibility if you climb onto your roof for a DIY assessment. It could be a long way to the ground if you slip and fall over the edge.
9. Check Your Attic
Your home's attic isn't just an out-of-sight-out-of-mind area. When properly ventilated and insulated, the attic can cut energy consumption and utility bills. That'll leave more of your hard-earned money in your pocket.
If there are issues with your roof, your attic could provide telltale signs. For instance, if you see mold or water damage, that could point to roof issues.
10. Address Problems Right Away
Dilly-dallying or dragging your feet when there's a problem with your roof is just asking for problems. Nipping things in the bud is always the right move.
If you detect issues with your roofing system, the first thing to do is call a roofing company. The service provider can check your roof, determine if something's wrong, and recommend how to proceed.
11. Change Roofing System When It's Time
While a quality roofing system can last decades, you'll have to change it at some point. The key is to ensure you don't wait too long to do it.
Getting a quality roof and maintaining it is essential. But so, too, is replacing the roofing system when it's at the end of its lifecycle. Otherwise, you won't get all the benefits you want from such an important component of your home.
12. Check for Signs of Damage Inside Your Home
Another way to maintain your roof is to check for signs of damage inside your residence. Puddles, discoloration, or moisture on the walls or ceilings could be telltale signs that something's amiss.
Don't ignore these problems. Doing so will worsen the issues and could cost you a small fortune compared to tackling the problems immediately.
