Repairing or replacing your roof can be costly, which is why maintaining your roof every six months can help you to identify potential problems and prevent costly repairs later. It's also advisable to make sure your homeowner's insurance covers serious roof damage. It's also best to work with an adjuster or a contractor on making sure that you get the maximum amount to cover any damages.
Here is a checklist to homeowners can do. If you feel uncomfortable with any of these, just give us a call and we'll be more than happy to help you out
- Look for missing, damaged or curling shingles or broken and damaged tiles or any other signs of wear and tear. It's easy and inexpensive to replace to replace a few shingles or tiles.
- Check for signs of fungus or algae. If your roof is starting to collect moss or algae, install zinc or lead control strips.
- Inspect metal areas for rust. If it's present, wire brush the rust, then prime and paint the metal.
- Examine the flashing to make sure it's solid. If not, remove all of the old caulk and scrub the area clean before resealing.
- Seal any cracked mortar or caulking around joints and chimneys, if it appears to be deteriorating.
If you see any signs of leaking, like dark spots on the ceiling, or mold or dampness in your attic, take action immediately. Roof leaks get worse over time, not better. It's much more cost efficient to spend a few dollars on roof maintenance rather than a lot on a big repair.
Other roof maintenance issues
- Sweep or blow off excess debris on the roof. Sticks, leaves and other debris can damage shingles, cause algae to grow and eventually clog the gutters.
- Trim any branches that are hanging over the roof to prevent damage and keep squirrels and raccoons away.
- A thick layer of snow accumulation could lead to roof collapse. If this happens, carefully pull the snow off the roof using a snow rake available at most home improvement stores.
Roof maintenance is often ignored, but small problems with a roof can lead to some of the most costly home repairs around. If you experience any issues with this checklist, feel free to give us a call and we'll be more than happy to come out and help. 713-952-3400