Knowing how to maintain your roof can be difficult for a homeowner. With the right level of care and maintenance, you can make sure that your home’s roof lasts for as long as it is anticipated to. Regular roof care and inspections will help you avoid needing costly repairs for water leaks and other issues, as well as early roof replacement. Here are roof maintenance tips for homeowners that will ensure your roof lasts as long as it should.

The Important Roof Upkeep Checklist

1.    Check Your Shingles Regularly

So, how do you keep a roof in good shape? The first step is to just check on it as frequently as you can—particularly after a strong storm or winds. The good news is that getting a decent view of your roof doesn’t require you to climb up a ladder. Instead, all you need to see any possible issues is a good pair of binoculars. When evaluating your roof on your own, be sure to watch out for the following:

• Missing shingles
• Curling shingles
• Cracked shingles
• Missing granules

Any of the aforementioned indications of damage have to be examined right away, ideally by a qualified roofing contractor who can perform the required repairs without risk.

2.    Check for Leaks in Your Ceilings and Attic

Finding water stains inside your home is another early sign that your roof needs maintenance. To prevent more serious problems, you should inspect your ceilings and attic for water damage on a regular basis, just like you would your roof itself. The following are the most typical leak warning signs:

• Certain rooms have musty scents.
• Bulging patches on your interior walls.
• Your ceiling has water stains.
• Your outside walls have some spots.
• Patches of your inner walls that are bulging.

If you see any of these symptoms, your next move should be to find the leak and hire a contractor to repair the roof hole.

3) Maintain and Clean the Gutters

Your gutters safeguard your roof by channeling water and debris away from your roof and home’s foundation when they are in excellent shape. You must keep your gutters clear of leaves, sticks, and other debris so they can perform their function properly. If there are no trees close to your property, you should clean your gutters at least twice a year to maintain optimum water flow. Cleaning your gutters on a quarterly basis will keep them functioning properly, especially if you have trees on your property or live in a region that occasionally gets hurricanes.

4) Annual Moss, Lichen, and Algae Treatment

The growth of moss, lichen, and algae on your roof can result in significant damage and a generally unpleasant appearance. This frequently happens in shady regions of your roof during the warmer months. By having a professional clean your roof, you can eliminate these growths with ease. Applying preventative treatments with zinc and copper will stop the moss, lichen, and algae from returning once your roof is clean and dry. These treatments efficiently prevent the growth of any substances on your shingles when applied annually.

5) Make Sure Your Attic is Well Insulated

Without adequate insulation, the winter snow and ice that has built up on your roof will begin to melt at the base, causing the water to refreeze around your shingles. The process of melting an ice dam on your roof, which keeps water from properly flowing from the gutters, can swiftly inflict significant harm to the roof’s shingles and structure. By preventing heat from your home from escaping through the roof, the insulation in your attic aids in preventing this damage. Your attic area will benefit greatly from the installation of high-quality insulation if you want to avoid this problem.

6) Reconstruct Your Chimney

Make sure to inspect your chimney for cracks or missing masonry as you go through your roof’s maintenance checklist. Any size of structural damage can cause bricks to start tumbling out, harming your roof and perhaps leading to the collapse of your chimney. Any mortar cracks can be repaired by either hiring a contractor or doing it yourself with a trowel.

7) Trim Branches Near Your Roofline

Trimming large trees close to your home, especially those that hang over the roof, can shield it from accumulating debris and impact damage. Tree limbs may fly loose during severe storms and natural calamities like hurricanes and tornadoes, and hence pose the risk of harming your roof. Branches that hang too close to your roof or appear as though they might break in a storm should be cut down. It is advised that you monitor the development of the tree branches surrounding your home once a year to determine when they require trimming.

8) Wash Your Roof

Washing the roof is an important maintenance tip for shingle roofs. Your roof will eventually start to seem soiled, with long, dark streaks extending from the peak to the eave. The algae on your house is growing here. Algae won’t harm your shingles right away, but if you let it grow for a long enough period of time, it will progressively ruin them.

Spray a mixture of 50 percent water and 50 percent bleach on your roof to get rid of these tiny plant-like creatures. The algae will be quickly killed by the bleach, but you should also put copper strips directly below the top of your roof. When it rains, copper molecules will flow down your roof and kill any algae that could be planning a comeback.

9) Have Your Roof Inspected by a Professional

Considering that you have our roof care checklist in front of you, why would you need to pay for a roofing inspection? An inspector can identify any issues that you might have overlooked and can provide you great advice on how to maintain your roof. They’ll also offer you a rough estimate of how long it will last. The majority of roofers advise performing inspections every two years, but doing so annually will boost your chances of spotting possible problems before they require expensive repairs.

Do you need a quick roof inspection or repairs for your damaged roof? Matera Roofing, a reputable roofing company based in Dover, Florida, is here to help. We provide top-notch commercial and residential roofing services throughout the state.  Call us at (813) 971-2527 or fill in our online form to get in touch today.