6 Roof Maintenance Tips to Reduce Wear and Tear

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The roof in our house plays a vital role in keeping everything inside safe and secure. However, the roof is not built to last. It can incur small damages in time, ultimately leading to a bigger problem. It is important to ensure that these minor damages be fixed as soon as possible before it results in more severe damages. Here are a few tips for reducing the wear and tear on the roof.

1. Replace missing shingles

The moment you must notice missing shingles on the roof or notice water stains on the ceiling, you should immediately replace it. The shingles on the roof play a vital role in keeping water, snow, and wind out of the house. But it is not meant to last forever. 

In time, it will bend, crack, or fall away entirely causing the water integrity of the roof to be compromised. A visible sign that the shingles are damaged or otherwise missing is seeing shingle debris in your yard or downspout.

2. Fix ponding as soon as possible

Ponding happens when the roof is able to hold standing water. Typically, the roof should be able to shed water away immediately. Standing water is quite damaging to the material and might lead to leaks. Ponding is of particular concern to the roof that is pitched rather low, but it might also happen to steeply pitched roofs in some cases.

3. Regularly clean the gutters

Gutters carry off rainwater from the roof and direct it either into a separate rainwater tank or into the sewer. In either case, if a gutter is clogged, it can cause water to pool and eat away at the material. The most common reasons that a gutter might get clogged are because of debris, usually fallen leaves or bird's nests. 

Since gutters are curved inward to prevent water from spilling over, it can be difficult to determine if debris is clogging them. Only when rot is visible or when water pours over the gutter would it be evident that it is clogged.

4. Check flashing integrity regularly

Flashings are flexible metals placed around joints or openings to prevent water from seeping through. Flashings are a common site for leaks as they are sometimes manipulated in different shapes to cover the joint or opening, occasionally punctured to be fixed in place. 

These places are around vents, chimneys, valleys, pipes, and skylights. Signs that flashings are damaged usually involve rusting or bending on the material.

5. Remove ice dams

This happens in areas that experience severe winter conditions. Ice dams are common after a snowfall. The interior of the house melts the snow but freezes once again as it gets to the side of the roof. This is the site of buildup that exerts pressure into the structure of the room, damaging tiles and shingles as well as the gutters. 

Removing ice dams involves using a roof rake to scrape off the ice and snow.

6. Trim surrounding trees

A major cause of residential roofing damages comes from an unlikely source, trees. Many homes are surrounded by trees as a way to increase the curb appeal of the house. But overhanging branches that reach towards the roof could lead to scratches and deep gouges on the roof material. The danger is even more evident during storms when the possibility of a branch breaking off and landing on the roof is increased.

Final Thoughts

Preventing wear and tear on the roof is one way to make sure the roof in our homes lasts longer. Small steps in ensuring it like preventing clogs, moisture, water, and debris all add up to prevent the occurrence of more severe problems in the future.

Author Bio: 

Kerry Brooks is an ardent blogger who loves to write about home improvement, home remodelling, restoration, and repair. She is currently working with SRQ Building Services Inc., one of the best roofing Sarasota companies, which offers exceptional roofing services for both residential and commercial properties.