Year Round Roof Maintenance Tips for Homeowners

The average cost of a complete roof replacement is about $7,000, and that’s if you’re lucky. For some homes, a new roof could cost more than $10,000, which is a massive amount of cash, and most homeowners are not prepared to spend that much to repair their roofs.

Unexpected expenses like roof repair always seem to come at the worst time. Part of the reason for that is a lack of regular roof maintenance. Homeowners focus a lot on internal cleanliness and yard maintenance, but the roof is one item that often goes unnoticed. It’s not until we go to sell our home or a troublesome leak happens that we remember roofs need maintenance too.

Simple, year-round roof maintenance can help keep your roof in great shape and extend its life. The longer you can hold onto your roof, the more money you can save, and the less you need to worry about expensive repairs.

These roof maintenance tips can help you take care of your roof and avoid big unexpected payouts.

Inspect Twice a Year

A prevalent phrase in the roofing business goes: look up to keep costs down. At least twice a year, take some time to inspect your roof. Your checkup does not have to be an in-depth inspection – just a look from the ground and a perimeter check.

During your once-over, inspect for these items:

• Damaged, loose, or missing shingles
• Exposed or missing fasteners
• Buckling or drooping
• Broken gutters
• Piles of granules

You can perform these quick inspections more often, especially after significant thunderstorms or heavy snowfall. Regular roof inspections help you catch minor problems early, which will cost less to repair. You may even be able to fix some minor damage on your own if you are handy.

We recommend doing ground inspections during the spring and the fall when the weather isn’t too extreme, and you can get a clear look at your roof’s condition.

Clean Gutters Regularly

No one likes to clean the gutters, but it’s a necessary job if you want to keep your roof in good shape. The gutters are responsible for carrying water from the roof to the ground and away from your home’s foundation.

Gutters need regular checks because they can quickly become clogged with all kinds of debris. Anything that falls on your roof can slide down into the gutters, including leaves, twigs, and trash. If your gutters get clogged up, they won’t function properly.

Clogged gutters become more serious when water begins to build up and sit against your roof. The moisture can damage shingles and wood, and cause mold and moss to grow. The redirected water can also spill over the edge of the gutters and might lead to foundational issues.

In most cases, it’s enough to clean your gutters thoroughly twice a year: once in the spring and again in the fall. Check them out during your routine inspections and pull clogs out as needed in between cleanings.

Clear off Debris

An easy way to maintain your roof and keep it looking new, clean, and attractive is to clear off debris. Between the wind and animals, your roof can gather tons of debris including leaves, sticks, trash, branches, and more.

Not only does the debris add unnecessary weight to your roof, but when wet, debris can start to rot. Built-up debris also gets pushed down into your gutters and can clog up your drainage system, leading to standing water spots.

In severe cases, too much debris can cause water to rot away shingles and wood, eventually causing large areas of leaks and rot. Try to clean debris off your roof every few weeks if possible, to prevent more serious issues.

Check Out the Attic 

Part of roof maintenance includes the inside of the structure: the attic. Along with regular outdoor maintenance, you should also check out your attic regularly. Attics are ideal breeding grounds for pests like mice, termites, squirrels, and bats.

All of these little critters can cause significant amounts of damage. They can chew your roof from the inside out, causing leaks and weakening the internal structure of the whole thing.

Try to get up in your attic once a month to check for signs of infestation. Look for scratch marks, chewed wood, droppings, and nesting materials.

If pests become an issue or get out of hand, enlist the help of a certified pest removal professional to help.

Clean Moss and Mold

Your roof is the outer barrier of your home, so it comes into contact with all the elements the world throws at it. Algae is a common growth on your roof, and it can damage shingles. Some homeowners like to clean it off because it doesn’t look great, but cleaning also helps prevent harm to the protective barrier of your home.

Other growths such as moss, mold, and other fungi can be a big problem too. These bacterial growths can weaken the structure of your roof, breaking down shingles and rotting the wood.

If you spot any of these growths, contact a professional roofing company. Removing these growths can be a tough job, and it is not a job that you want to be done by non-professionals. You can clean up small spots as you find them, but contacting a professional is best for more extensive cleanings.

Trim Trees

If you have large trees near your home, you need to keep them trimmed and well-maintained. Branches can cause some critical damage if they fall on your roof, particularly substantial branches that suddenly break off in heavy wind and rain.

Low-hanging branches that touch your roof can also disturb your shingles. Swaying branches can catch on shingles loosening or pulling them off, so it’s best to keep branches at a distance.

The best way to handle tree branches is trimming so they are at least ten feet away from the roof of your house on all sides. You can avoid branch damage by chopping a few limbs.

Contact Professional

When all else fails, contact professional roofing companies for more help. Baltic Roofing has experts equipped to handle any job, large or small.

If you run into an issue during a routine inspection, while cleaning the gutters, or as you’re clearing debris, give us a call. We deal with gutter repairs and roof repairs. We can properly diagnose damage and let you know if you need to replace a few shingles or if you need an entirely new roof.

Baltic Roofing can make sure your roof stands tall to protect you, your family, and all your possessions. We take roof maintenance seriously, and our professionals are here to help with any questions you might have.

Final Thoughts

Maintaining your roof can sound like a lot of work, but with regular inspections and cleanings, you can make your roof last for a long time. When it does come time to replace your roof, you can’t go wrong with Baltic Roofing. Baltic Roofing offers superior materials, attractive layout styles, and effective gutter designs.

To keep your roof in shape and avoid costly repairs, contact us for maintenance and when it comes time for more extensive projects. We’ve got the expertise!