As a new homeowner, there are many things that you need to do regularly to maintain your home. If you don’t, it could fall into disrepair. This will not just make things inconvenient for you, but it can also affect the value of your home.
Your roof is one of your home’s most important defense components. It protects against rain, snow, debris, and wind. It has to be strong at all times, and any gaps or leaks can lead to big problems. Water damage can be incredibly bad for your home. It can threaten the integrity of the structure and damage your personal property. To make sure that your roof is strong at all times, here are seven roof maintenance tips for new homecomers.
Inspect Your Shingles Regularly
For every change of the season, thoroughly inspect your roof. Check all of your shingles for damage or for missing shingles entirely. Every season has the potential to cause damage. The summer and the hat can lead to sun damage. Snow and melting ice can harm your roof as well. The fall brings hurricanes and extreme weather events, while the spring is notorious for the amount of rain that comes with it. Wear and tear leads to the pebbles on your shingles falling off. You should also look at the caulk around the vent pipes and flashing. Moss and other organic materials could cause decay and rot.
Keep Your Gutters Clean
While you might think that your gutters are meant to protect your foundation by keeping water away from the soil around it, they also help protect the roof. You need to keep them clear to do so, however. Leaves, sticks, and debris can all build up in the gutters, causing the water to back up onto the roof. If trees are on your property, you may have to clean out the gutters more often. If you don’t have trees, then twice a year should do the trick.
Keep Branches Back From Your Roof
If your property has trees near your home, you must keep them away from your roof. If they hang over, then they can drop leaves and twigs on your roof. They can also damage it when the wind blows the branches against it. Trim those branches so that they are not close enough to your roof to come into contact with your roof. You should inspect your home and the area around your roof to make sure that the trees aren’t too close. If you are unsure, then it’s always best to err on the side of caution and trim them back.
Change the Type of Roof You Have
Of course, if you want to do as little maintenance as possible, a chance of your roof might be in order. While most roofs are made with shingles, metal roofs are getting more popular. This is because they are more durable and better at preventing leaks. In addition, metal roofs don’t wear down like shingles do. However, you still need to keep them clear of debris and inspect the vent pipe exits. If you are unsure about whether a metal roof would be appropriate for your roof, contact a metal roofing contractor in Marion, IN to discuss your options.
Properly Insulate Your Attic
It might seem weird that your attic insulation can affect your roof, but it absolutely can. Insulation is meant to keep heat in your home, but if it isn’t adequate it will also let heat out. This will end up melting the lowest layer or snow on your roof. It will then refreeze and create an ice dam. An ice dam will keep water from properly flowing off the roof and into the gutters. Too much water on the roof will severely damage the shingles. If your attic is properly insulated, the heat won’t escape and cause damage. Inspect your insulation regularly to make sure that it’s adequate.
Get Debris Off Your Roof as Soon as Possible
You might think that when something falls on your roof, like a tree branch, you can leave it there until it’s convenient. However, leaving debris will cause more damage than the initial impact. For one, wind will blow on the debris, causing it to scratch at the shingles. Having organic matter and the roof can also cause a build-up of lichen, algae, and moss. This will not only cause damage, but it can look terrible, too. There are products made from zinc and copper that you can apply to your roof to prevent these materials from building up in the first place.
Hire a Professional
Working with roofs might look simple, but many components must be properly installed and connected for your roof to do its job. While you can certainly do all the inspections and maintenance, having a professional handle any repairs is always a good idea. Your roof is not something you should take chances with. If you miss anything, you could quickly find that you have damage and more repair costs than you would have if you’d just hired a professional in the first place.
Having a strong and sturdy roof is incredibly important to the integrity and safety of your home. Leaks and water damage will affect your home’s foundation and load-supporting beams. Don’t take chances. Give your roof the maintenance it needs to last a long time into the future.
