With yard work and spring-cleaning, roof maintenance generally is not a feature in most people’s spring to-do list. However, as winter ends, your roof should be at the top of your home maintenance priorities.
Winter weather can cause great damage to your roof, and if the damage is severe, it may compromise structural integrity. If you want your roof to remain standing after winter, you may want to give it some post-winter care.
Here are seven maintenance tips to offset the rigors of winter weather and prepare your roof for spring.
1. Have Your Roof Evaluated
After winter, the first thing you want to do is have a professional roofer evaluate your roof for damage. While you can evaluate your roof yourself, it may have subtle damage signs that an untrained eye may have difficulty identifying. Additionally, roofs are wet and slippery after winter, so it can be dangerous for you to climb on the roof.
To be on the safe side, it would be best to have someone with experience do the inspection and note all the repairs your roof needs.
2. Check for Interior Signs of Water Damage
Sometimes when your roof has water damage, you may have a hard time identifying it from the exterior. However, your interiors may show telltale signs of water damage. Check your ceiling for water stains. These may appear as brown ring-like stains. You may also want to look out for bubbling or peeling paint on your walls.
Have your contractor do repairs as soon as you observe any signs of water damage.
3. Clean Your Gutters
Cleaning your gutters is essential for preventive maintenance before spring. Debris may have clogged up your gutters throughout the winter months, making it impossible for them to drain water. You do not want all that blockage in your gutters during the spring.
If you have clogged gutters during the spring rains, instead of flowing, water will stand on your roof, or overflow, causing structural damage to your home. You may want to add a gutter guard to prevent further blockage.
4. Check for Mold and Algae
During the winter months, the moisture on your roof provides an ideal environment for mold and algae growth. If ignored, mold and algae may damage your roof and harm your health. If you observe mold or algae on your roofs, make sure you remove all of it.
5. Trim Your Trees
Apart from shedding leaves and debris on your roof, overhanging branches may break and fall on your roof during rainstorms. If this happens, your roof may sustain extensive damage. Additionally, leaves shed on your roof may harbor moisture, which may damage your roof and encourage mold growth.
6. Replace or Repair Damaged Shingles
Damaged shingles are sources of water leaks, and with the spring rains, you want to avoid having to wipe puddles of water off your floor all the time. Additionally, water leaks may damage other areas of your home, such as your ceiling, attic, and walls. Damaged shingles also expose your roof’s protective membrane to damage, thus compromising its insulative properties.
Have your roofing contractor repair or replace damaged shingles before spring to avoid the above problems.
7. Examine Your Fascia Board and Flashing
Your fascia is the wooden or metal board that runs along the lower ends of your roof, covering exposed trusses and rafters. On the other hand, the flashing is a thin metal material on roof joints such as the areas between the roof, chimneys and roof valleys.
The flashing and fascia keep water from entering your house through gaps in the roof, so if they are damaged, they need immediate repairs to avoid water leaks into your home.
Preventative roof maintenance is important for extending your roof’s lifespan and protecting your home. Contact us at Volpe Enterprises today for post-winter repairs and maintenance services to keep your roof in good shape as we enter springtime.
Volpe Enterprises, Inc offers comprehensive roof repair services. We are some of the most experienced roofers in the country! Find out more at Roof Repair.
