One of the most overlooked things in home maintenance is roof maintenance. Yes, it’s a little out of reach sometimes, and it can be a pretty big hassle, but maintaining your roof is essential to making sure that it doesn’t rain indoors. In fact, if you leave out some basic roof maintenance procedures, like the ones we’ve listed below, you risk having to shell out thousands of dollars in cash down the line because you have to get your roof replaced.
Yes, regular roof maintenance is a hassle, but it’s a very small price to pay (both financially and in terms of effort) for a safe home. Here are some basic roof maintenance tips that you should follow:
Always Clean Your Gutters
Always check your rain gutters, even if you live in dry cities. That means regularly going up and scrubbing your rain gutters whether you live in Salt Lake City or Tampa Bay. Yes, it’s a dirty job and it can get kind of gross, but your rain gutters are essential structures that make sure your roof drains water completely.
Make sure to clean out your rain gutters at least twice a year, once in the spring and once in the winter. Do it more often if you just got hit by a storm.
Give Your Shingles a Quick Inspection
You don’t have to check every single shingle: rather, make it a habit to do a quick, but thorough, spot-check of your shingles as often as possible. Look for missing, curling, or cracked shingles, and replace them as soon as you can to avoid any further damage. This is especially true if you notice these before storm season.
You could have your shingles replaced on your own, but it’s always best to contact your local professional contractor to do it for you. Sure it’s going to cost you, but hey, it’s a small price to pay.
Your Roof Needs to Be Washed Too
Have you ever noticed why some roofs have these long, dark, and dirty streaks that extend from the peak all the way to the eaves? That’s caused by a growth of algae and, while algae itself won’t cause immediate damage, it can rot out your roof if you leave it there long enough (which, unfortunately, many people do).
If you notice these streaks on your own roof, it’s time to give your roof a bit of a shower. Hose it down with a mix of water and bleach (ideally in 50-50 ratio), as this will kill the algae quickly. It’s also a good idea to install some copper strips underneath your roof peak, as copper molecules are known to have strong anti-algae properties.
Check Your Attic and Ceiling Too
But it’s not just the outside of your roof that needs combing over, you need to go inside your house and start checking the ceiling for water stains or spots. Go up to your attic and do a spot-check of its walls and ceiling for any water stains, and also check for any musty odors.
It’s also a good idea to check your interior and exterior walls for any bulging in the paint. This is a sign of water damage and it could seep into your home’s concrete and rot it from the inside. Not good!
Get a Professional to Check it Out
If you really want a thorough inspection of your roof, go to your local professional. It’s going to cost you a few hundred bucks, but it’s a small price to pay for someone with more know-how than you to look through your roof for any repairs that it might need.
