If you are ignoring your home’s roof, then it will likely have a shorter life span. The roof on a building has numerous types of materials, including:
- Shingles
- Insulation
- Waterproof layers
- Rafters
- Eaves
- Rain gutters
- Chimneys
A roof is a complex component on a home, and it requires maintenance to ensure that it is in the best condition. Experts from SS Roofing Boston share some of the ways to help your home’s roof to last longer.
Way 1: Regular Rooftop Inspections
To determine if a roof has any problems, you need to inspect it regularly by climbing on an extension ladder. You should do this seasonally when the weather is warm enough to see the roof’s surface and edges. If you can’t perform this task on your own, then you should hire a professional to check the roof. In addition, make sure to inspect the roof of your home after there is severe weather such as a hurricane, making sure to avoid dangling tree branches or any power lines.
Way 2: Keep a Rooftop Clean
It is essential to have a clean roof on a home, but in some geographic regions, this is difficult because algae or mold will grow on the rooftop. If you have trees on your property, then the leaves and sap from the trees can also damage the roof’s materials. You may need to use a power washer device to remove any growth from mold or algae, and this will also eliminate the dried leaves and tree sap. You can hire an expert to perform these tasks so that your home’s roof will remain in good condition.
Way 3: Make Repairs Right Away
If there is a problem with your home’s roof, then make a repair as soon as possible. Simple problems such as missing or damaged shingles can lead to additional damage as moisture leaks into the rooftop’s underlying layers. Rather than only needing to replace a few shingles, you may need to replace the insulation materials, and in some cases, the moisture will leak inside a home, destroying drywall along with electrical wiring. Contact a knowledgeable roofer to make the repairs right away.
Way 4: Remove the Piles of Snow
When you live in an area with a lot of snow and ice, don’t allow these substances to accumulate on the rooftop. Ice and snow are heavy, and these substances can damage a roof’s structural integrity. You should increase the heat in your home to melt the snow or ice, but there are also special rakes that you can use to remove the ice and snow. If you are unable to remove the heavy ice and snow on your own, then contact a handyman to perform this job.
Way 5: Proper Drainage Systems
Having the proper drainage systems on your home’s roof can protect it from damage. If moisture remains on a home’s roof, then it will degrade the materials. In addition to rain gutters and downspouts, you may need specialty drainage devices on the roof, especially when the rooftop of a home has an unusual shape.
Way 6: Care for the Trees on Your Property
If you have trees on your property, then you must make sure to remove any dangling branches that can damage your home’s rooftop. It is also essential to have dead or degraded trees chopped down and hauled away so that the trees don’t fall on your home’s roof during a violent storm.
Way 7: Regular Chimney Repair
When your home’s rooftop has a chimney, you must make sure that it is in excellent condition. In addition to having the chimney cleaned to remove creosote that can cause a fire, you should have a cap on the chimney to keep animals or insects from building a nest in the item. A blocked or poorly functioning chimney is dangerous because it can have an internal fire that will spread to your home’s roof.
Way 8: Clean the Rain Gutters
If the rain gutters are filled with debris, then water cannot run off of a building’s rooftop. The rainwater or snowmelt will remain on the roof, rotting the materials, reducing the life span of the rooftop.