From seasonal to unexpected check-ups, roofs have always been forgotten since they’re so high that it’s impossible to constantly check on their state. A household will only know that their roof needs love when they find watermarks in the ceiling, hear something fall, or after a big storm.
Other than that, homeowners mostly don’t keep a lot of attention on roofs because people can’t even see them enough to judge how they look. But that doesn’t mean you should skimp on making an effort to keep your roof in good health. It protects you from the rain, the sun, bird waste, leaves, and branches that fall off without warning.
After realizing how big of a role your roof plays in protecting your home and your family, it’s time to find ways to keep it in its best state so it can provide you with the best protection that you need. Plus, roofs aren’t the cheapest ones to fix and replace.
Even if they’re made to withstand extreme weather conditions and catastrophes—such as animal waste and corpses, they’re not guaranteed to last forever, especially if you don’t give them enough attention.
But it’s not too late to give your roof some love. Here are ways you can do just that:
1. Check your shingles.
Annual checks, or more often depending on the situation, on your roof shingles are important. You can’t risk letting one of them come off because that’ll let the others come off, too. The last thing you want is for everything to fall off and lead you to a bald roof.
Remember that it’s not just rain and strong winds that can damage shingles. The sun’s rays are also capable of damaging them.
So, make sure to regularly inspect your shingles for damages and see if any of them need to be pushed back into place or repaired.
2. Trim the branches near your roof.
If you have trees in your lot or the lots close to you with long branches that extend to your roof, you better do something and prevent them from even touching your roof. Trees are heavily susceptible to extreme wind, snow, ice, and other natural phenomena. They can be whipped around and uprooted, which can damage your roof because, well, the branches are touching it. If that does happen, you’re in for a few expensive repairs. Not to mention long branches are also safety hazards.
3. Get your gutters inspected.
Clogged gutters can be a nightmare. From bubbling wall paint and rotting wood, unclogged gutters can result in expensive repair and replacement work. Your gutter can also be bombarded with debris, bugs, and leaves that the train washes up instead of down, which might need gutter repair services.
The water that stays still in your gutter can damage the support beams and the roof if left untouched. These problems can be pricey to fix. A cleanup will do the job, but they’re pretty prone to breaking, especially if you live in an area with strong winds and long tree branches.
4. Moss isn’t always your friend.
Even if moss in your roof can help you achieve a natural forest look to your home, it can also cause damage in great amounts. That isn’t very fairytale-ish now, is it? Leaving moss to grow without monitoring gives them the power to bulk up between shingles and lift them away from the roof, letting water get in and remain within. What’s more? The moss itself can hold water.
After that, leaks and rotting wood will follow. Scrubbing the moss away when they grow too much to be aesthetic material is easier than getting new shingles, fixing leaks, and replacing rotten wood. Take note that moss doesn’t pick materials. It can damage anything from concrete, wood, asphalt, and many more.
You can keep moss at bay by seasonally sprinkling zinc sulfate granules on your roof.
5. Insulation and ventilation will save it.
A ventilated and insulated roof is less susceptible to damage from excess moisture, leading to rotting. Verify if your roof is well insulated and ventilated by taking a quick look at your attic and checking if you have the right type and amount of insulation.
Good roof ventilation will prevent your home from getting too hot in the summer because of the lack of balanced airflow. This means that warm air has nowhere to go, and it’ll stay where it is, which makes the area feel hot. Aside from lessening heat, a well-ventilated roof will save you money on utility bills because you’ll use your air conditioner less or on low power.
