How to Take Care of Your Roof?

5 Simple Roof Maintenance Tips to Make it Last

In order to last its expected lifespan, your roof needs to be maintained regularly. Don’t ignore your roof. Otherwise, someday problems will begin to crop up and the damage will reveal to be much greater than you expected.

We understand that as a householder, learning how to care for your roof can be a worrying process. Fortunately, without regard to the roof type your home has, you can assure it lasts to its expected service life with the correct level of maintenance and care.

If you don’t maintain your roof system, the need for extensive repairs and even a roof replacement might become unavoidable due to water leaks, moss, etc. Besides, roof maintenance helps you to save money and preserves your roof’s beauty.

These roofing maintenance tips will help ensure your roof lasts its expected service lifespan.

1. Create Sloped Roofs

First things first, every glass roof requires a minimum slope (approximately 1%). Your glass roof needs to possess a minimum slope so that rainwater can help wash away any dust, leaves, and debris that settle there.

Generally, a slope of 5% or more guarantees a decent enough incline to keep it relatively clean in winter as it rains much or when you wash it (hopefully you don’t forget to wash it!)

Discover more glass roofed spaces by browsing these winter gardens.

2. Remove Moss and Leaves

Perhaps one of the easiest elements of roof maintenance is removing leaves. Removing leaves regularly is not just for aesthetic purposes; leaves collecting near the chimneys, skylights or in roof valleys will collect and retain moisture. This will inevitably reduce the lifespan of your roof and the house beneath it.

You can use means like a leaf rake or leaf blower to clear the leaves off. While doing that, make sure a friend is spotting you from the ground below.

Moss, on the other hand, is a natural formation that seems harmless but may damage your roof as it grows.

Since moss traps moisture, it leads to weakening within the structure.

If you want to keep a well-maintained roof, then conducting regular inspections and occasional moss removal procedures will dramatically extend its longevity and prevent damage from occurring.

Also, we recommend that you use an environmentally safe pesticide to remove the moss and consider placing zinc strips if the moss insists on coming back.

3. Clean & Maintain Your Gutters

Maintaining the gutters is the third item in our maintenance checklist. In order to protect your roof, keep your gutters in great condition. Because they can direct water and debris away from your roof and home foundation.

Though it’s not an easy task, cleaning out your gutters is an essential part of maintaining your roof. When leaves pile up, it leads to clogged gutters. This can cradle moisture, and sometimes even wick it upwards into roof sheathing and rafters.

Most experts recommend cleaning them out twice a year, once in late spring and again in early fall. Cleaning the gutters will prolong the life of your roof.

4. Look Out for Ice Dams

But if you’re going to do it on your own, avoid these common mistakes:

Avoid prying it off your roof’s surface, once the ice has formed. This will only make things worse. Therefore, it’d be better to think ahead about this one. So, you should winterize your roof, especially if you live in a snowy area.

Do not use a hammer or chisel to hack the ice. You’re more likely to damage your shingles than remove the ice dam.

Ice dams can cause significant damage to your roof. 

Trying to remove an ice dam might be dangerous. The safest way to remove snow from your roof overhangs, eaves, and gutters is by having a professional, licensed contractor.

Ice preventers like salt, potassium, calcium, sodium, or magnesium are corrosive to shingles, metal gutters, downspouts and flashings. Thus, stay away from these.

5. Watch Out for Shingle Damage 

Tree branches can keep pushing shingles and loosen them up. Over time, this constant contact can detach the shingles from the roof.

One thing that you can do on your own is to grab a ladder and control whether there are any signs of shingle damage to your roof.

If the shingles are curled, buckled, or simply missing, you’ll want to address the issue right away to prevent any damage from occurring.

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Maintaining your roof is one of the indispensable components of home improvement and adds value to your home.

The exterior of your home is very important. So use these tips and keep up the maintenance of your roof when you can. Check out our glass roof solutions!