Tips and Tricks to Maintain Your Roof
After having your roof installed, the work doesn’t end there! It would help if you made a continuous effort to care for it, especially when living in an area with extreme climates (like Arizona). That means learning to maintain your roof and taking action in keeping it in excellent condition.
Understandably, not everyone can easily do this, especially if you aren’t familiar with how to maintain your roof in the first place. Not to worry, as we list down the effective tips and tricks you can follow.
Tips and Tricks to Maintain Your Roof
Even if your roof can last for decades, their lifespans can be cut short if you don’t care and maintain your roof well. It’s essential to have your roof inspected twice a year and to conduct routine maintenance.
While a roofing contractor should be the one conducting professional inspections on the roof, there are ways you can help prevent damage and the need for early (and costly) roof repairs. Follow these tips and tricks to maintain your roof:
Trim the trees
While the tree limbs around your house increase the area’s aesthetic, they can cause very ugly roofing issues. Tree branches and limbs knocked loose during strong winds and storms may cause significant damage to the roof. Furthermore, squirrels and other critters will have easier access to the roof, invading the house.
As such, it’s essential to trim your trees and remove threatening branches. Once you notice the tree branches and other landscaping growing closer to your home and roof, trim them back a few feet so it won’t cause issues during inclement weather. It’s also vital to ensure shrubs and ground landscaping have enough space for the gutters to drain water properly and away from the house, as this could also cause roof damage.
Clean debris
Besides the bothersome branches, cleaning your gutter system is also important, removing leaves and other debris. You’ll be surprised by the amount of debris that can clog up the gutter system, causing water to back up in your attic and living areas.
Make sure that the drainage system remains free-flowing by cleaning your roof at least twice a year. Furthermore, watch out for damaged drain components, sagging gutters, and the like. These must be repaired or replaced when needed. If you have no time or cannot clean your gutters, then hire professional gutter cleaning services to do the job for you.
Other than the gutters, it’s also important to clean the roof itself, as it can incur algae, moss, and mold spores carried from the wind. While algae won’t do a ton of damage, moss and mold are detrimental.
Moss may result in curling shingles, which has you quickly lose shingles during lousy weather. Mold can decay your roof structure, causing severe and pricey damage. That’s why it’s essential to clean and get rid of any mold and moss.
Consider spraying mossy and moldy parts of the roof using liquid chlorine bleach mixed with water. Let the mixture sit for 15-60 minutes; then power wash it all off. Be wary with the run-off and ensure it won’t go to your landscaping on the ground!
Your roof should be insulated and ventilated.
If your roof doesn’t have enough ventilation, then heat and moisture may result in the rotting of your roof’s sheathing and rafting. The roof materials may also buckle, causing less effective insulation. That means your house loses up to 25% of its heat, leaving you with higher energy bills!
Make sure you fit your attic, roof, or loft space with better insulation to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures and less expensive energy bills. Furthermore, proper roofing insulation can last for decades, which pays itself from what you save on energy bills. It will also reduce your carbon footprint while maintaining a comfy house.
Have more open and vented spaces so air can pass freely, with at least an inch between the roof sheathing and insulation. That would prevent moisture and permit better house temperatures.
Check your attic
Besides checking your roof’s exteriors, it’s also important to check inside, particularly the attic and ceiling. This allows you to spot any leaks or infiltrations you couldn’t detect outside.
Watch out for any signs of water damage, moisture, and leaks. If you encounter any signs of damage and water issues, contact your roofing contractor immediately to resolve the issue before it worsens.
Check for any signs of damage.
The hot Arizona weather can take a toll on your roof. Such excessive temperatures may cause your roof tiles or shingles to crack and shrink. Extreme summer storms might even tear the shingles off your roof!
While roofs are meant to last for years, poor weather can damage even the strongest systems. After storms and during regular inspections, check for any missing or damaged shingles. If not, then damaged shingles left alone can end up making your roof and interiors prone to water seepage and rot.
Schedule a roof inspection
While you can perform the tips mentioned above on your own, we can’t express the need to have your roof inspected by professionals enough. It’s crucial to have your roof inspected 1-2 times a year by a professional to ensure that it is in good condition and to conduct any preventative measures to keep your roof from failing when you need it most. It’s also best to have your roof inspected after extreme storms and weather conditions.
You might be surprised that there are things you missed from your own inspection, as a roofing contractor has the training and expertise to detect even the smallest signs of damage or decay.
Wrapping It Up
Roof maintenance is absolutely crucial if you want a longer-lasting roof to withstand the Arizona climate. With the right tips and tricks to maintain your roof, you won’t have to worry too much about costly repairs and damage during inclement weather.
Hopefully, our tips will help keep your roof in excellent condition! However, if you notice some damage on the roof, contact us now, and we can provide a free inspection!