Tips for Caring for your Roof

Tips for Caring for your Roof

Caring for your roof extends its lifespan. Most roofs last 20 to 30 years but with proper roof care, its lifespan can be extended to few more years.

Repairing or replacing the roof can be expensive and most homeowners realize this. However, the roof remains among the most neglected part of the house. The roof protects the house from the harshness of the elements but it is not exactly impervious to damages caused by heat or moisture. In fact, the first part of the house to incur damage is the roof and if that damage is ignored, it could spread to the rest of the structure and creep towards the rest of the house.

Ensure that your roof lasts as long as it could with these proper roof care tips:

Regularly inspect for moss and algae growth in the shingle materials. These growths can corrode the shingles if ignored. They can be controlled with zinc or iron solutions found in your local hardware.

Always clean your roof and gutter of debris such as leaves and garbage.

Don’t forget to inspect the flashings for any sign of damage. Cracks in flashings are easy enough to repair and if there are algae growths, then prevent further outbreak with zinc or iron solution.

Check for cracked or loose shingles and repair or replace them immediately.

If there are trees growing near your house, always check for overgrown tree branches. Branches falling on the roof can misplace and damage shingles.

Clean metal roof regularly. Accumulated debris can cause mold and algae to form resulting to rusts and other forms of deterioration to the metal.

Metal roofing have lots of components i.e. panels, seals and screws. Check these regularly to make sure all are secure.

Never postpone repairs or replacements. Simple repairs i.e. leaks, caulking, may be tackled by the homeowner but spot repairs and replacements should be done by a professional roofer. Roofing is a dangerous job and there are some precautions only trained roofing contractors know of. Also, you can get more proper roof care tips from Kaiser Roof and Exteriors.

Your roof may often be out of sight, but it doesn’t mean it should be out of mind. Always remember that the integrity of your entire home depends largely on the functionality of your roof.