10 Tasks You Can Perform to Maintain Your Roof

Your roof is one of the most important components of your home, protecting your family and your most significant investment against the fluctuating Michigan weather. By taking care of your roof, you can prolong its life while also minimizing your need for professional roofing repair or roof replacement services. In today’s post, we will discuss ten things you can do to make sure that your roof is in top shape.

1. Keep Your Gutters Clean: Things like leaves, twigs, branches, and other debris can block your gutters and downspouts, causing water to build up on the roof due to insufficient drainage.
2. Trim Trees and Branches: If you have trees near your home, branches that hang over your roof pose a serious risk and could cause damage to your home during severe storms. By trimming these branches or dead trees, you reduce the risk of expensive storm damage.
3. Remove Debris From Your Roof: Depending on where you live, there may be leaves, branches, moss, or other things that accumulate on the surface of your roof. While this may not seem like a big deal, these things can trap moisture, which can slowly deteriorate the roof structure over time if you don’t remove them.
4. Check for Leaks: You may notice staining on your ceiling or walls inside your house, which could indicate that your roof has a leak. You should address these leaks as quickly as possible to minimize damage to your roof and home.
5. Inspect Flashing and Seals: You should check all flashing, caulking, and sealants around anything that penetrates your roof, like skylights, vents, chimneys, etc. If you notice any damage or deterioration to this flashing, you need to repair or replace it quickly to prevent any water from getting into the structure of your home.
6. Replace Missing Shingles: Replace any missing, damaged, or curling shingles to prevent water infiltration and prolong the life of the roof.
7. Address Moss and Algae: Moss, algae, and lichen retain moisture on the surface of your roof and can potentially cause damage to your roof over time. There are gentle cleaning solutions you can use to properly clean the surface of your roof.
8. Check Attic Ventilation: Without proper ventilation in your attic, moisture can build up, potentially causing roof damage and facilitating the growth of mold. It may be necessary to add additional vents to ensure your attic is safe.
9. Inspect Insulation: While you are checking the ventilation in your attic, also check your insulation to ensure that it is properly in place without blocking the insulation. Proper insulation is also important to preventing ice dams during the winter.
10. Schedule a Professional Inspection: Get peace of mind by having a professional roofing company, like Patriot Exteriors, inspect your roof and identify any and all potential issues you could be facing. If you would like to schedule a free roof inspection, contact the professionals at Patriot Exteriors, today.