Young man on latter cleaning house gutters
Being a homeowner carries a lot of responsibility. If you don’t take care of your home, you will end up spending lots of money taking care of major repairs. There are often areas of the home that are prioritised over others. Unfortunately, the roof is often overlooked. Your roof can be a huge expense if major repairs are required. In order to keep your roof in pristine condition, it is important to conduct routine maintenance and checks. This will allow you to identify any potential problems. If you take care of these issues before they escalate, you will save yourself a great deal.
There are some specific things you need to do so you can get years and years of use out of your roof:
- Clean all gutters. Usually you think of wet basements and siding issues with clogged gutters. Water problems from clogged gutters can also flow upward and damage roof sheathing or even rot the wood. This could be a very costly affair, so make sure the gutters are always free from leaves and other debris. This is not an easy job, so if you require assistance, do not hesitate to call in the professionals. Just be sure to employ the services of a reputable roofing company.
- Remove leaves from the roof. You will need to routinely remove the leaves that have inconveniently gathered on the roof. Piles of leaves may get trapped near chimneys and other protrusions, that can decompose and allow moisture to stay on your roof. This will prematurely age your roof and you may need to restore your roof, earlier than desired.
- Trim any branches that may hang over your roof. If you do this, you will have an easier time keeping leaves and moss off your roof. Branches can also tear asphalt shingles, so it’s best to keep the branches away from your roof. It is not uncommon for squirrels and rodents to live and breed in roof spaces, where it is safe and warm. Squirrels’ normal method of teeth trimming will includes chewing on acorns, walnuts or other hard coated seeds. However, when these are not available to them, they resort to roof shingles and virtually anything around the home that does not contain metal. Don’t wait until these pesky creatures have chewed a gap in your roof. To keep animals off the roof, you will need to trim your branches at least 10 feet away. If you keep branches away, they will have limited access to the roof. Because of the skill involved, you may want to call a professional to do this so it is done without causing any further damage.
- Remove any moss that grows on your roof. Moss is not good for your roof because it traps moisture and water. If you catch it early, you can simply use a broom to get rid of it. If you wait and allow it to build up, a roof restoration for your Melbourne home may not be far off.
- Stop Ice Dams from forming. If you experience brutal winter conditions, you will need to take this into account. Removing the snow from roof will prevent ice dams from forming. This way, you won’t experience any leaks inside your home from the ice build-up.
Taking simple, proactive measures to avoid significant roof damage is the key to keeping a roof over your head. Taking the steps suggested will help extend the life of your roof and help you avoid costly repairs. Roof maintenance is often overlooked. Don’t ignore the significant impact that roof damage can have on you and your family.
