The state of your roof is critical to the health of the rest of your home. A leaky roof can lead to water damage throughout the entire house. Improperly insulated or ventilated roofs can drastically increase heating and cooling costs, as well as lead to other problems. For these reasons and others, it is important to regularly check and maintain your roof.
Debris and Damage
Physical damage to the roof can happen many ways: winds or flying debris during a storm, falling debris from overhanging trees, or even simple wear over time. Conduct regular examinations of your roof simply by looking for signs of damage. Cleaning your gutters is part of roof maintenance as well, and while you are up on the ladder doing that, you should be able to see most of your roof to look for obvious damage.
If there is debris on your roof you will want to check for damage in the area. Even if there is no damage, you should remove any debris from your roof as it can trap moisture, which can damage shingles and encourage the growth of mold and algae.
Trim back any tree branches from your roof. Not only will this prevent limbs from falling onto your roof, but it will discourage squirrels or raccoons from being on your roof. These animals have been known to dig their way into attics, and removing them can be a completely different kind of headache than simply repairing the damage they cause.
Mold and Algae
Algae are generally not harmful to your roof, but it is a possible sign of excess moisture. When you see algae on your roof, be sure to look for other signs of water damage; mold, rot, damaged shingles, etc. Algae can be unsightly even if it’s not very damaging. Algae remover solutions are relatively cheap and easily applied.
Moss and mold can be more damaging to your roof than algae. They grow root systems which can penetrate and compromise roofing materials. If there is moss or mold on your roof, you should remove it as soon as possible. Moss and mold removers are just as easily applied as algae removers are.
Shingles and Flashing
Even one missing shingle compromises the integrity of the whole area and can lead to more serious problems. Whenever you notice missing or damaged shingles, they should be replaced quickly. Thankfully, replacing shingles is a cheap and easy task, as long as you’re comfortable working on the roof. If you are uncomfortable with the idea of doing it yourself call Mr. Roof. We provide the highest quality products and services, all wrapped up in our lifetime warranty.
Flashing, caulking, and boots around chimneys, vents, and skylights should be repaired as quickly as missing shingles are. Flashing that has separated needs to be resealed with caulk, but if it has begun to rust or break down, then it will need to be replaced. Again, these are relatively simple jobs, but if you ignore them, they can potentially lead to much larger problems.
