Your roof is arguably one of the most important parts of your home. It protects residents from environmental elements, ensures your possessions are safe, and is likely one of the first things people notice when they arrive at your house. A roof deserves diligent maintenance. Taking proactive measures can help you steer clear of expensive and inconvenient issues.
Make Maintenance a Way of Life
Many people don’t worry about their roofs unless problems like leaks and weather damage are affecting functionality. Instead of taking that risky approach, it’s better to think ahead and incorporate roof maintenance measures into everyday life.
Regularly inspect the roof, and make a special effort to do so after your community has been hit with bad weather. If you notice something amiss, make a maintenance appointment immediately, or see if the problem is something you can take care of without professional intervention.
Keep Gutters Functional and Free of Debris
If a roof’s gutters are clogged with leaves and similar debris, they won’t work as effectively. Periodically clean the gutters, and do the task more frequently in the late fall, when trees are most likely to naturally shed their leaves.
While you’re at it, take a close look at the structure of the gutters and make sure you don’t see gaps in the gutter seams. Also, check that the brackets that hold the gutters to your house are still securely attached.
Be Mindful of Nearby Trees
You may not initially be too concerned about overhanging trees near your roof, since they’re not part of the roof itself. However, there are a couple of potential threats associated with tree branches and your home’s roof.
If large or heavy branches fall onto the roof, they could result in damage. Furthermore, even if branches just rest against the roof’s surface when they’re still attached to the tree, that may cause issues. Over time, as branches touch the roof, it could have an abrasive effect on the surface’s protective coating.
Get Educated About Signs of Trouble
Although there are many things that indicate potential roof problems, home dwellers often just notice them in passing, perhaps think they’re a little strange, and then get on with their lives. Instead of taking that haphazard route, it’s a good idea to learn about some of the visual clues of roof trouble and what they may represent.
For example, water spots on your ceiling after rain usually mean there’s a roof leak. Also, if your shingles have started to crack, that’s likely because the granules have worn off, so the shingles need to be replaced.
These issues are just two of many that can be competently handled by a roofing specialist. KY-KO Roofing is one example of a roof company that handles everything from minor leaks to installing completely new roofs.
When choosing a roofing company, aim to find an experienced provider. Then, explain in detail the things you’ve noticed that suggest your roof needs attention.
You don’t have to be skilled to practice responsible roof maintenance. The key is to show commitment by checking your roof regularly and knowing when it’s time to call professionals.
I like what you said about roofing and homeowners, “…it’s a good idea to learn about some of the visual clues of roof trouble and what they may represent.” My wife and I are about to move into our first house so we could use all the help we can get when it comes to taking care of it. The roof is really important to keep in good shape, I would assume. It’s covering our heads and keeping them safe and warm. Thanks for the help!
Thank you for the help. I just had some maintenance done on my roof and I think it was because I kind of have neglected taking care of it. I want to be educated, as you suggested. How can I best learn the early signs of a problem with my roof?
I agree a lot with the idea of keeping gutters functional and free of debris. This way your roof has less weight on it. I think that it is important to be able to keep your roofing clear.
Educating myself about the different warning signs that there may be something wrong with my roof seems like a great way to take better care of it. So far, the only signs that I know to look out for is if there are loose or broken shingles. You said that one example is to look out for water spots on my ceiling after it rains since it’s an indicator of a roof leak. I’ll keep an eye out for that from now on, and check for more information about my roof that will let me know if there’s hidden damage that needs to be repaired. Thanks for posting this helpful information!
I’ll never turn down advice that prevents costly problems. I usually never clean out my gutters, even though I have a lot of huge trees looming around my yard, and the leaves tend to fall all over the place. I can see how it would be beneficial to keep those things cleaned out though, especially in the fall. Thanks for sharing this.
There is definitely a lot of things I didn’t know about keeping my roof in good condition. I think performing small maintenance yourself would help its longevity. Hiring a professional to come do a full inspection once or twice a year would probably be a great idea as well. Thank you for the information!
The part of my house that I usually neglect is my roof, and I know I need to be checking it more often than not. I need to be more cautious and I need to keep an eye out for any damage or anything that could lead to damage. I’ll start doing regular checks on the roof to make sure that it is in good condition. Thanks for the great tips and advice!
I like your tip to be mindful of trees nearby your roof. Like you said, any heavy branches that fall can cause some serious damage to your house, and even branches resting on your roof can wear down its protective coating. I’d also add that a nearby tree will have more falling leaves that can clog up your gutter, so you’d have to be more on top of gutter cleaning. Thanks for the tips!
I think one of the reasons people have difficulty maintaining their roof is because they’re not aware of what to look for and how to deal with it themselves. Having tips like these available definitely makes it easier, so thank you for sharing.
I like that you mentioned being aware of trees nearby. Our neighbors just had a pretty large tree branch fall and damage their roof. I would certainly keep an eye out and make sure to trim back when necessary.
Tiffany, these are some really good things to know as a homeowner. I liked what you said about how you should know what the signs of trouble are. It seems like it would be a good idea to look into getting a roofing contractor to your home quickly after you notice a trouble.
I’ll have to do a roof inspection now that winter has ended so I’ll use these tips you’ve listed. Gutter cleaning is on the list so I’ll follow that piece of advice as well as looking the signs of trouble you listed like water spots, cracks, etc. Thanks for the helpful roof inspection advice, I’ll use this on my next maintenance routine.
It is important to fix thing when they get broken. When it comes to roofs it needs to be fixed so quickly. Just like this article say, if there is something wrong with it, there can be molding and warping happening to the roof.
I’m definitely guilty of seeing something peculiar on the roof and then just brushing it off. We have some loose shingles on our roof and we have done a great job of ignoring them over the past few weeks. This led to some water spots on our ceiling. Hopefully, we can get the whole mess fixed up soon. I really agree with you when you say not to ignore odd things that you see, check them out!
I really like your advice about how maintaining a roof should be a way of life. I hardly ever inspect my roof and so I know that that is something that I should do. However, what should I be looking for when I inspect it?
I agree that you need to get in the habit of maintaining in order to do it effectively. Sometimes when I approach something like this, it seems like I won’t ever remember to do it. However, I am always surprised by my own ability to stick to something that I think is important. The roof of any home is definitely important, so I greatly appreciate all of your helpful tips!
I had no idea that gutters could have such a big impact on your roof. I know that I’m really bad about cleaning my gutters and I’ve noticed some roof damage lately. I’ll have to call a roofer and maybe they can help me with my gutters as well. Thanks for the awesome advice!
My parents have had a lot of issues with their roof in the past, but thankfully they have learned what warning signs to look out for because of it. It’s unfortunate that they had to learn from their mistakes, but at least they know how to take care of their roof now. Thanks for the tips.
I’ve seen my fair share of full, nasty gutters. So many gutter problems when they get filled up to the top of the edge. People, clean them gutters! Here in Ohio it stinks because of all trees and leaves we have.
Hi Tiffany !!
I really like your post and it is very informative about How to prevent our roofs? The best point is, a roof does need regular check-ups in the form of regular inspections and prompt repairs.
After all, if we take care of the small stuff, it will delay the more serious issues that can shorten our lives. We should have the inspections done once before the season with the most severe weather and once after.
If a roof is found to be in marginal condition at any time, a survey should be used at that point to help formulate a course of action.
Looking forward for more latest information
Thanks
Man oh man. Roofs have got to be the most neglected part of your home while being one of it’s most important (and costly) assets. Great article. More people need to read this and think like this! They’ll avert disaster with some basic, sensible care for their roof.
I think it’s important to start with the right kind of materials based on your climate, including trees. A wooden roof might not hold up as well as metal or slate in some climates, and vice versa. A great reason to hire a roofer is to have them help you decide on a roof that offers the greatest longevity.
I’m in SC and we tend to get hail storms. So, it will really beat down on our roof! Do you have any advice or is that just a part of home ownership?
My brother bought a new house but it looks like the roof needs some maintenance. I hadn’t thought about inspecting the roof often, especially after the community has been hit with bad weather. I will let my brother know that this is a good practice after he gets somebody to look at his roof.
Great tips! Recently I have noticed water spots on my ceiling and as I suppose the reason is my roof. I live in an old house and it time to have it repaired because the winter is coming. Thanks for the advice!
Great tips! Finding out what is going on in and on top of your home can save lots of money!