Simple Roof Maintenance Tips That Make a Huge Difference
Irrespective of whether you are a new homeowner or you have owned your home for years, maintenance is key to keeping everything ticking over and to stabilise the value of your home.
However, this goes beyond trimming the hedges and painting the walls. One part of your home that will need maintenance to keep the value up is your roof, and, while it may seem strange to think about maintaining a roof, there are some simple steps you can take every day.
Clean Your Gutters
The gutters around your roof are primarily designed to collect the water that runs off during rain, directing it away from the foundation of the home. One way you can help to maintain your roof is to keep the gutters clean. This is important because if they become clogged, the debris can enter your roofing material, as well as the siding of your home, and even the interior, which can mean you’ll need to contact roof repair contractors, simply because you didn’t clear the guttering. It’s not worth it, and it’s something you can do on a weekend.
Combat Moss Growth
What’s the issue with Moss on your roof? Well, it acts as a sponge, and it absorbs water that accumulates during rain and humid conditions. So, if you have moss on your roof, it can weigh it down and affect the infrastructure. It can also damage shingles and other roofing materials if it gets underneath them, again compromising the integrity of the roof. Make sure when you clean your gutters that there is no moss or other green foliage growing on your roof, as this will help it to reach its average life expectancy.
Trim Overhanging Branches
Do you have a tree or multiple trees in your front or back garden? As visually appealing as these are, if they grow too close to the home, the branches can become a problem and cause a serious issue with your roofing. As tree branches rub against the roof, they can cause the shingles to come off, as well as cause tears in other roofing materials. Be sure to get those overhanging tree branches trimmed regularly, and, if you are not able to, be sure to contact a tree surgeon to do this for you.
Maintain Roof Flashing
For those who are not well-versed in all things roof, the roof flashing is a thin, often metal material that is used to direct water away from a critical part of the roof, which prevents leaks and water damage. So, if you’ve recently had a loft conversion professionally installed and if there are any windows that have been extended from the roof, these will have flashing around them.
One way you can check if the flashing on your roof is in place is to very carefully lean out of a second-story window and inspect the flashing. Signs that it is not intact will include it being loose, having gaps between it and the shingles, or having parts that are visibly missing. This can draw water in underneath the shingles and compromise the roof on the upper level of your home.
