Make Sure The Gutters Are Clean
It’s easy for gutters to become clogged by dried leaves and other debris. On a pleasant day, it can seem perfectly fine, but as soon as it rains, your clogged gutters can cause water to get backed up. This can damage your roof shingles along with the roofing structure beneath. It’s recommended that you clean your gutters at least twice a year to avoid problems.
Conduct Roof Inspections
While you can conduct a general visual inspection of your roof from the ground, or if you are adventurous, you can climb onto your roof for a closer look. But it’s best to have a residential roof inspection performed by a professional roofing company that knows what to look for.
Cut Back Overhanging Branches
Tree branches that protrude over your home can knock against your roof during heavy windstorms to cause damage. They can scrape at your roofing shingles and degrade them very quickly. You may even find that these branches are allowing mold and algae to grow on your roof, which could lead to leaks and extensive internal damage down the road. Roofing contractors can help determine the situation and cut back the branches.
Address Storm Damage Promptly
Left unchecked, even minor storm damage can lead to serious problems. Just a small leak from a malfunctioning, broken, or missing shingle can allow water through to the roof deck. From there, the wood can swell to cause structural problems. And the water could leak directly into your home. In many cases, storm damage can start with something small and lead to one thing after another. If you believe your roof has been damaged by a storm, rain, hail, or high winds, schedule an immediate roof inspection. Handling the roof repair now could save you thousands of dollars in repair costs later.
When you want to keep your home in good shape, it helps to have a basic knowledge of residential roofing. After all, the average roof is built to last between 20 and 30 years. But there are some things that can cause it to age poorly—and you can extend its lifespan by using these residential roofing tips from the pros.
