Simple Ways to Prolong the Life of Your Roof
Like your car, your roof requires maintenance as well. Except a roof doesn't come with a "check engine" light. This is why an annual roof inspection is something that is highly recommended. Roofing maintenance involves things like roof repairs that should be done by a professional contractor such as Optimum Roofing Company, but there are other ways to prevent further damage you can do. We are going to explain some of these things that you can do to prolong the life of your roof.
“An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure”
Preventative Care
Damage to a roof is inevitable but you can prevent unnecessary damage to your roof by removing debris like tree branches and leaves from your roof, cleaning your gutters, and trimming back your trees. A falling tree branch can cause some serious damage to your roof. Tree branches are especially prone to falling during severe weather. The build-up of debris on your roof can prevent water from draining correctly causing it to pool and seep into your home.
Roof maintenance is often looked over until a small repair becomes a bigger problem leaving you with a bigger bill. A thorough inspection, performed regularly by a professional roofing contractor, can monitor the roof’s condition and help prevent these small problems from becoming major roof leaks.
Roof Inspection
In order to determine whether or not your roof needs any maintenance or repairs, you must perform a roof inspection. Inspecting a roof by yourself is doable but getting your roof inspected by a professional is the best way. Safety is always a priority and walking around on a roof is something that requires experience so we suggest scheduling an inspection instead. The best part is we can do it for free and we are the pros after all. Roof leaks are easy to repair but spotting them can be difficult. Most times a professional can spot things that you might not have known about. We know exactly what to look for when diagnosing the problem.
Here are a few things you can look out for when inspecting your roof to determine whether or not you will need professional services.
- Missing, cracked, blistering or curling shingles
- Cracked caulking
- Deteriorating flashing
- Exposed nails
- Algae growth
- Cracked seals around pipes or vents
- Heavy granular loss on shingles
- Discolored ceilings
- Leaks in the attic
- Sagging gutters
Roof repairs
After a thorough inspection, you should know if your roof requires any repairs. Timing is key when it comes to roof repairs. So it is best to solve the problem rather than put it off. A repair can be as simple as changing a pipe boot but it varies from house to house. Roof repairs are a cost-effective way to fix the problem without too much hassle but if your entire roof system is failing then it may be time for a replacement.
Remember that if these problems are widespread and frequent then you should consider getting a full roof replacement. If you are unsure you can always call Optimum Roofing Company and schedule a free roof inspection.