When it comes to home maintenance, it is always the smartest way to start from the top. So, taking care of your roof is one of the best ways to keep your home safe and sound long-term. Sometimes, when we face problems within our home, whether it is problems with construction or with functioning, the very core of it originates from the roof. For instance, have you noticed a severe mold infestation lately? Go and check your roof. Roof leaks are typically the cause of this problem because they let in more moisture than your house can bear, resulting in mold. However, worry not, we have prepared a short guide on how to take care of your roof effortlessly.
Inspect Your Roof Regularly
There is no point in believing that your brand new roof will keep your house safe if you do not inspect it regularly. It will not take you a whole day to see if everything is fine up there. Extreme weather conditions can damage the best of roofs, and in those situations, it does not matter if the roof is completely new or not. To this end, summer weather and high temperatures can seriously take a toll on your roof. Extremely high temperatures can sometimes cause shingles on your roof to crack, while summer storms, which are known to be severe, may easily tear them apart.
Even though new roofs are constructed and made to last for a very long period of time, severe weather such as tropical storms, hurricanes, tornados, or even just strong winds may damage even the most durable roofing systems. So, taking a couple of minutes to inspect your roof for missing or damaged shingles will keep you on the safe side. On the other hand, if you notice a serious problem, then it is the smartest option to contact the local roofing company. To this end, if you live in Washington and are in need of roof repair in Vancouver, WA, look up folks who can conduct a thorough inspection of your roof and fix the problem you have discovered. Inspecting your roof regularly is critical, especially if we take into consideration the cost of setting up a new one. So, make sure you maintain the one you have properly.
Keep the Gutters Clean
Since your roof is your first line of defense against all of the dangers coming from the outer world, you need to keep it well-maintained. The least you can do is to keep the gutters clean. Seasons come and go, and every single one of them leaves a trace in your gutters. Making sure your gutters are clean from debris and free of blockages is the initial step in residential roof maintenance. Not to scare you, but if the water from your gutters cannot flow freely, it can cause a lot of trouble from your basement to the ceiling. For example, roof decking tends to rot because of gutter blockages. Instead of getting yourself into this situation, applying this small maintenance tip will keep you safe from a lot of roofing problems. In addition, it would be great if you could contact professional gutter cleaning service providers to check and clean your gutters from time to time.
Trim Trees and Landscaping
While trees surrounding your home can create a beautiful landscape, they can cause some problems as well. Keeping tree limbs too close to your roof can severely damage it. During storms and strong winds, these may hit your roof, causing you immediate damage and clearing a path for squirrels and other animals to invade your home. One of the most useful pieces of advice is to cut those branches threatening your roof. When you notice that the branches or any other part of your landscaping are growing too close to your house, it is best to trim them a couple of feet away given the fact that they may pose a serious threat during severe weather conditions. Additionally, debris coming from these branches may clog your gutters.
Moss and Mold
Moss an mold spores are easily spread by wind, so it is not a rare case for them to grow on the roof as well. While algae do not tend to do a lot of damage to the asphalt roof, moss and mold may be detrimental. By bearing in mind that these spores thrive in moist areas, if you spot these on your roof, then most certainly you have a leak in the area where you have noticed the growth of these two. In addition, moss can cause your shingles to curl, increasing the likelihood of losing them during severe weather conditions, allowing moisture to deeply penetrate into deeper layers of your roofing system. A short-term solution is to spray the mossy or moldy area with liquid chlorine bleach with a water mixture, allow it to sit for a couple of minutes, and then power-wash it. However, make sure to contact the professionals to inspect your roof as well.
Leaks in the Attic and Ceiling
The most certain indicators that something is off with your roof are the leaks in the attic and ceiling. While visual inspection of your roof from the outside can keep you protected from a lot of trouble, you can miss leak spots you cannot see from the outside. So, when you are doing your regular roof check, take a couple of minutes to inspect the ceiling, especially in the attic. You need to look for signs of moisture or water damage.
Strong Insulation
Last but not least, you need to ensure proper insulation for your roof. Poorly insulated roofs can cause your home to lose heat during the winter season. Filling your attic with proper insulation will help you maintain the house and reduce energy costs. When installed properly, your roof insulation may last for over 40 years. This means the insulation will pay itself for the energy bill reductions altogether by reducing carbon footprint and keeping your home cozier.
Keeping your roof well-maintained is one of the crucial steps to maintaining your whole home. The least you can do is to conduct regular checkups and trim the branches so they will not cause any damage. If you are not sure about your own inspection, you can always contact professionals to do it for you.