Your roof keeps your home interior safe from wind and rain. With some of the severe weather common to Central Florida, including tropical storms and hurricanes, it’s essential to be sure your roof offers you the best protection possible. This involves doing regular roof maintenance. Knowing what roof maintenance should include can help ensure your roof stays in good condition for years.
Roof Maintenance Benefits
Roof maintenance offers important benefits for your roof, including prolonging its life. With regular care, your roof can last longer before it needs to be replaced. Roof maintenance also helps you find visible damage early and have repairs done before the damage gets worse or causes additional problems.
Roof Maintenance Should Include the Following
Keeping track of different tasks involved in maintaining your roof can be challenging. To make it easier, we’ve compiled a list of things to include in your roof maintenance routine. Doing these tasks helps ensure you get the most out of your roof.
Check for Shingle Problems
Missing, broken, or loose shingles create gaps where water can enter your home. Look up at your roof to see if you can spot cracked or missing shingles (use binoculars for a better view). Check around your yard for any shingles that have fallen off. If you find any areas that have missing shingles, be sure to contact a professional roofer immediately for help. These areas allow water into your attic & can cause severe water damage.
Remove Leaves and Other Debris
Wind storms and nearby trees can leave your roof covered with leaves, twigs, and other debris. This debris can build up on your rooftop and create damp areas where mold, moss, or lichen can grow. Larger debris can also scrape or damage your roof. Having your roof cleaned is an integral part of maintaining it.
Look for Shingle Granules
Shingle granules look like small piles of grit or sand. You’ll usually see these in gutters or under downspouts. Granules provide shingles with a layer of protection from sun damage but wear and tear can cause them to erode over time. Rain can then push granules through your gutters to downspouts.
Identify Roof Leaks
Look for signs that your roof has a leak. You might notice areas on your roof that look damp or wet. You might also see water stains or water dripping in your attic or even come across wet insulation. A professional roofing contractor should repair roof leaks as soon as possible to prevent severe water damage from occurring. The insulation, any damaged wood or sheetrock & the roof will need to be repaired.
Trim Branches Around Your Roof
Having trees close to your house can give you shade and keep your home cooler. However, these same trees can damage your roof. Long or overhanging tree branches can scratch or scrape your shingles. Wind storms can tear off dead twigs and branches and blow them onto your roof. Keep branches near your roof trimmed to prevent these problems.
Watch for Wood Rot
Look up at your roof to check for any areas of wood that appear rotted or damaged, such as the soffit and fascia. Wood rot can lower your roof’s performance and lead to roof leaks. These areas of softened wood can also make it easy for pests to get into your roof or attic. If you can reach the fascia from the ground, try putting your thumbnail into it. If it goes in easily, the wood is softening and should be replaced before damage occurs.
Clean the Gutters
Part of roof maintenance includes cleaning your gutters. Trees and storms can fill your gutters with leaves and other debris, which leads to blockages. This stops rain from getting through your gutter system to the ground. Blocked or clogged gutters can end up causing roof leaks and other damage. You should also check your gutters to make sure they’re not loose or damaged.
Check for Flashing Damage
Flashing refers to the metal around chimneys and other structures that come up through your roof. These protrusions can make your roof more vulnerable to leaks if they create any gaps or openings. Metal flashing covers any gaps that might let water through, protecting your roof from serious damage. Look up at your roof to see if the flashing looks worn or damaged.
Check for Pipe and Vent Damage
Rubber boots around pipes and vents protect against leaks, but they can deteriorate over time or become damaged. While looking up at your roof, check for any signs that these rubber boots are damaged or wearing out.
Schedule Professional Roof Maintenance
While it’s easy enough to look up at your roof for damage, you might not be close enough to spot everything. Other tasks, such as cleaning your roof, can also be challenging. Scheduling professional roof maintenance can help ensure that your roof maintenance checklist is complete.
Who should you call? Alan’s Roofing offers over 30 years of experience with roof maintenance and other roofing services in Central Florida. You can rely on our certified roofing experts to help keep your roof in good condition year after year.
If you need to set up roof maintenance, please contact Alan’s Roofing. At our family-owned and operated business, we know how important it is to make sure your roof is ready to handle hurricanes, frequent rainstorms, and other severe weather.
