Simple Ways to Maintain a Healthy Roof

The cost of replacing or repairing a roof is an expense most of us can ill afford. Luckily, by spending a few hours periodically to carry out scheduled maintenance, you can actually catch roof problems and solve them before they spiral out of control.

Below are seven simple ways to maintain a healthy roof for as long as possible:

• Shingles: Keep a close eye to detect any missing or damaged shingles and/or roof sealant. Simply cleaning shingles and keeping them free of dirt can also reduce the risk for algae, moss, fungal and lichen growth that can compromise your roof’s integrity. If you notice that some shingles on the roof are worn, damaged or missing, you must act fast. If you feel you can handle it, replace them yourself, but if not you can engage a professional contractor. It is critical that you check, since shingle damage is part of normal roof wear, and shingles alone are simple and cheap to replace.
• Sealant: Replace the roof sealant as needed. Inspect every area of the roof where there is sealant and identify any signs of cracking or wear and tear. If present, you will need to remove the old sealant completely and apply new sealant in each area
• Trim Overhanging Branches: As you go about routinely inspecting your roof, be on the lookout for trees that are growing near your home. If there are branches hanging too closely to or directly above your roof, they need trimming. The reason is that falling leaves will collect on the roof, retain moisture and then start to rot your tiles, making them much weaker. If this remains unsolved for a long time, it may result in even more damage to the entire roofing structure.
• Inspect for Rust: If you constructed your roof using any metallic parts, then you need to check regularly that there is not corrosion/rust on the metal parts. If you notice rust developing, it’s important to wire-brush to remove the rust, prime and finally paint the affected areas of the metal to retain keep them healthy longer.
• Clean the Gutters: Gutters that clog up can cause a lot of damage to your roof. The reason for this is that water accumulating on gutters can easily make its way underneath your roofing structure. By keeping your gutters clean and in good repair, you ensure they can serve their intended purpose, alleviating any immediate dangers to your roof in the process.
• Maintain Your Chimney: If you notice cracked or missing mortar on/in your chimney, ensure you replace this as soon as possible. This is critical since the mortar holds the chimney bricks in place, and if any brick falls out, it could cause damage to your roof.
• Prevent Ice Dam Formation: Ice dams may be pretty to look at, but they spell doom for your roof as they build up, and repairing roof damage from ice dams is costly and intensive. Ensure you take steps to insulate your house and roof to keep your roof cool and at the same temperature as the external environment. This will keep snow closest to the roof from melting into water, and freezing onto the colder parts of your roof.

To keep a healthy roof, it’s also recommended that a professional inspect your roof annually. If you require a roof inspection, feel free to contact Dykstra Knight today for your free estimate.