Residential Roofing Maintenance
Your home’s roof is an extremely critical component that protects you and your possessions from the elements. However, the roof also protects many of your home’s structural components. Floor joists, rafters and foundation, as well as your insulation, sheet rock and floor coverings. Without proper maintenance, your roof may develop issues that can cost you thousands of dollars. Fortunately, residential roofing maintenance does not need to be costly or time-consuming. Here we look as some residential roofing maintenance you can do yourself.
Clean and Repair Gutters
Gutters are more than trim pieces to decorate the exterior of your home. They collect runoff from the roof and carry it to the downspouts, which then direct the water safely away from your home’s foundation.
- Clean out your gutters at least once a year. Clogs can force water under the edges of your roof, resulting in damage to your sheathing and decking.
- Check for cracks or holes that may be allowing water to drip down or behind exterior walls. This will avoid water damage to insulation, wall studs, siding and the foundation.
- Make sure that gutter fasteners are securely attached to prevent sagging. A sagging gutter can cause the same types of damage as a broken or clogged one.
- If you have asphalt shingles, look for granules in your gutter and around downspouts. New shingles will shed some granules, but if your roof is more than a year or two old, significant deposits of granules could indicate a problem.
Conduct Periodic Basic Roof Inspections
You can identify many problems by conducting a visual inspection with a pair of binoculars. If you are comfortable with heights, you can stand on a ladder to get a better view of your roof’s surface. Otherwise, conduct your inspection from the ground.
- Walk all the way around your home. Look for pieces of roofing materials in your yard.
- Check for granules around the foundation.
- Look for broken shingles, or shingles curling, loose or missing. If you have a metal roof, look for missing fasteners and loose or misaligned panels. For all other types of roofs, look for missing or cracked pieces.
Inspect the Attic
Many signs of a damaged roof first appear in the attic. Choose a sunny day to inspect your home’s attic.
- Look for light penetrating around the points where the walls meet the roof.
- Check for signs of water damage, mildew and mold on the contents stored in the attic as well as on the rafters, insulation and underside of the roof deck.
Have a reputable roofing contractor perform a periodic inspection. Make any necessary repairs can help you obtain the longest possible life for your roof. At Solid Roofing, we have built our reputation on the quality of our work and our competitive prices. Contact us for assistance with all your roofing needs.
