Roof Maintenance 101: How to Protect Your Roof Year-Round

Roof Maintenance is the key to a healthy long-standing roof on your home. Even though it can be taxing, a little bit of inspecting and yearly maintenance can go a long way in keeping your home up to code. This doesn’t mean you need to be an expert. In fact, simple cleaning and yearly upkeep will help you save money in the long run. Don’t wait to implement these roof maintenance tips. Start now and save money in the future. 

Inspect Your Roof for Rust 

Although mostly common in metal roofs, rust can appear anywhere on your roof that has metal pieces. That means any screws and any support beams that are metal can rust. When you do roof maintenance make sure to scrub off the rust and put special coatings on metal objects to ensure that rust doesn’t accumulate over time. Also, if you have a metal rough it will be worth your time to consult with roofing experts on making sure your roof maintenance can enhance the longevity of your roof. Specifically, you can ask about paints to apply and how to keep a cool roof without rusting that roof.

Take a look at your shingles

Inspecting your shingles yearly and replacing broken shingles can extend the life of your roof for many more years. Small roof maintenance moves like those can prevent leaks, maintain the integrity of your roof, and prevent more tiles from breaking. It’s a great way to spot roof leaks and fix them yourself. If you find more than one shingle to replace and you aren’t comfortable working on the roof it is best to call a professional residential roofing business. That way you are protecting both yourself and your home. 

Inspect and reapply sealant

Multiple points on your roof are going to have a sealant of some kind. You need to make sure that the sealant isn’t wearing off or coming off due to thunderstorms or other serious weather. If you find any cracks or any places missing sealant, you need to replace that sealant right away. If you are missing large portions, it can result in damage like water seeping through your home and insects finding their way through your roof. You don’t want something seeping into your home, damaging not only your roof, but also your walls and floors. It’s also good every year to assess the damage your roof has received over time. Make sure to take notes and keep up-to-date on any things you have had to replace or parts of the roof that have been damaged.

Routinely clean off your roof

From time to time, due to storms, wind, or other events, things are going to land on your roof. Every so often, you’re going to want to check your roof and make sure nothing is on it. Any added weight can damage your roof, and you don’t want to take that risk. Power washing your roof can be a simple way to wash away unwanted items off your roof. Remove dead branches and dead trees that are around your home. You also will want to clip tree limbs that are too close to your home or that are putting weight on your roof. Doing simple roof maintenance like this throughout the year is going to keep you protected even when you aren’t thinking about it. As a side note, you don’t need to get rid of all your trees around your home as that can provide you with shade and keep your home cool. Just remove tree limbs that are dead or damaged and put unnecessary weight on your home.

Clear out gutters

Everyone has heard about this roof maintenance tip, but cleaning out your gutters does matter. If those drain pipes get clogged with leaves, mud, or dirt, your water won’t be able to properly drain. This means that water is eventually going to go back on your roof and can possibly seep into your roof or into the cracks of your walls. Don’t let that happen. Once a month, look at your gutters to make sure they are clear and water is properly draining. Clearing out your gutters shouldn’t take more than an hour, but it can save you a lot of money if something goes wrong.

Clean and inspect your chimney

Chimneys can sometimes get damaged throughout the year. Bricks can crack and mortar can go missing. Take stock at the end of the year on whether or not your chimney is needing repairs. We recommend hiring a professional roof maintenance company to deal with this issue, as most people do not have the tools to fix a major problem. 

Looking for a new roof or want a repair done to your roof? Galaxy Construction and Roofing has the skills and tools to fix your roof. We have the experience and manpower to tackle the toughest jobs. Contact us today to see how we can fix your roof.