10 Roofing Maintenance Tips for Lasting Roofline Results

Here's an honest question: Do you have your roof at the "top of your mind" always? Well, probably not. With the everyday hustle and bustle that you have to go through, it's merely easy to lose sight of most essentials that are responsible for protecting your interior space. Although roof systems such as asphalt are for protecting your property for 15 years or more, we recommend that your roof be regularly inspected at least two times a year-- during fall and spring.

Access Doors and Panels is here to tell you why you should care about your roofing. To get you started, here are ten roofing maintenance tips to help you achieve lasting roofline results.

1. Warning for Buyers - When it comes to roof assessments, the best time to start is before any deadline, whether they be projects or buying a house. Before the future home or building becomes yours officially, we recommend getting a professional roof inspection to save you a lot of time and costly repairs. A professional doing the roof inspections can also be a plus if and when you decide to sell your property.

2. Trim surrounding troublesome trees - Of course, it is crucial to have a home or office with a surrounding landscape that you can admire every day. But it is also important not to overlook leaning branches that seem to seek companionship with your roof. They can scratch and gouge out your roof materials. The damage that trees cause can become worse if it's too windy outside. To prevent injury or puncture to your shingles or the entire roof, you can trim and remove all branches that get too close to your roof.

3. Remove the leaves and other debris - Aside from the bothersome branches of trees sticking out, leaves and other elements can also clog your gutter system and cause water to back up into your attic, behind fascia boards your living areas such as bedrooms. For a free-flowing drainage system, cleaning your roof at least twice a year is essential. Moreover, be on the lookout for sagging gutters or damaged drain components as these can redirect the flow of water to areas outside of your house that shouldn't have water pouring over them in the first place. It is vital to repair or replace gutters or damaged drain components when needed.

4. The roof must be able to breathe - When there is no proper ventilation, heat and moisture can cause the sheathing and rafting to rot and roof materials to buckle and insulation to lose its effectiveness. If you let this happen, your overall roofing system will become ineffective in protecting your home's interior. Tons of problems will come out, such as water leaks and small holes which light can pass through.

5. Do not ignore insulation - If you want to achieve appropriate ventilation and good airflow, the best way for you is proper insulation. To protect your property from heat, we recommend installing a gap-free layer of insulation on your attic floor. A vapor retarder under the insulation also works to stop the moisture from passing through and going into the attic. It is also ideal to have open, vented spaces to allow air to pass without a problem with at least an inch between the roof sheathing and insulation.

6. Regularly check for attic aftermath - It is also a good idea to check for water stains and weak shingles every after a massive storm.

7. Protection against streaking - You also have to pay attention to the color of your roof. When it comes to roof areas, generally, the northern part is exposed to shade during long periods in humidity and will eventually be streaked with mold, algae, or even fungus. If you leave these unchecked, the roofing material will ultimately deteriorate and shorten your roof's lifespan. It could then lead to leaks and other signs of trouble.

8. Look for signs of shingle damage - Your shingles can become dilapidated and get torn off from the exposure to everyday wear and tear from various elements, making a roof structure and interior space vulnerable to water damage and rot. We highly advise you to examine roof coverings each year to ensure the integrity of the same.

9. DIY roof repair - For those who are adventurous enough to attempt roof repairs, they always need to bear in mind that doing a DIY roofing job is dangerous. If you're going to do it yourself, we advise you to use a firmly braced ladder equipped with rubber safety feet. If you're going to walk on the roof, the best way to avoid danger is to wear rubber-soled shoes to prevent slipping.

10. Get quality roofing quotes - When a DIY project is not enough for your roof, and you need a roofer intervention, you should first make sure to do some homework before you hire a roofing contractor. Make a list of prospective roofing contractors and get at least two quotes from each of them to differentiate the best combination of quality and price that the contractors offer. Always think long-term and don't cut budgets when choosing a roofing company to save you a ton of repair costs down the road.

The Bottom Line

Always keep in mind how vital your roofline is. The best way is to be thorough when it comes to your yearly roof inspections. The utilization of these tips and tricks will help you further in preserving and protecting your building for many years to come. Once you're able to use these tips and tricks for your roofing maintenance, you can best bet you'll experience other kinds of benefits.

Have quick and easy access to your roof whenever you need to conduct roof maintenance, roof repair or specialty roof replacement. It is also advisable to install attic or rooftop access panels to help make the job easier for you or for any roofer that you hire. 

Check out https://www.accessdoorsandpanels.com/blog/attic-and-rooftop-access-panels/ to know more about them.