Home roof care is important for the overall maintenance of your house. By taking a proactive approach, you’ll avoid costly problems and uncomfortable living conditions. But taking care of your roof isn’t as easy as you’d think. It can be quite an intimidating process, especially if you’re a first-time homeowner or have never done any roof maintenance. Regardless of the type of roof your home has, you want to get the most out of it and prolong its lifespan. To do this, it’s important to understand what should be on your list and what should be left up to the professionals. You’ll also want to get yearly inspections to ensure that everything’s in working order, especially before winter sets in. To help give you an introduction on how to keep your roof looking and performing well, here are some of best roofing tips from professional contractors.
The devil is in the details, especially when it comes to your shingles. If you have a shingle roof, you need to make sure that all of your shingles are in good condition and working the way that they should. When one shingle is damaged or missing, it makes your roof far more susceptible to serious damages. Humidity can encourage mold and mildew growth and harsh storms can damage them or remove them completely. Make sure that you’re looking out for these obvious signs along with signs of cracking, splitting, warping, or general excessive wear. If you find shingles with these problems, you’ll need to either replace them or have a professional come in to make the repairs. Making these small repairs will help save you money and avoid any structural problems from occurring.
Regardless of where you live, it’s a good idea to treat your roof annually for moss, lichen, and algae growth. This is one of our most important roofing tips, especially if your home is in an area that’s routinely exposed to high levels of humidity. When you have algae, lichen, and moss growing on your roof, it’s more than just a cosmetic problem. It can actually lead to extensive damages and water leaks. Take the proactive measure and have your roof professionally cleaned and then treated with products that will help prohibit the growth of any new problems.
Many homeowners find this to be one of the more annoying items on their to-do list, but it’s essential to your roof care. Proper gutter maintenance is among one of the best things you can do to maintain a healthy roof and avoid water leaks. When your gutters are in good condition, they protect your roof and your home’s foundation. Gutters direct water and debris off and away from your home, which keeps your roof clean and relieves pressure from standing water. To make your job easier throughout the year, trim any trees or brush that hangs directly over your gutters. If you’d rather not get on a ladder to clean out your gutters throughout the year, that’s okay too. Professional roofing companies offer gutter cleaning and maintenance service in many of their roofing packages.
If you have a flat roof, you’ll need to make sure and regularly clean off the debris and leaves that accumulate. This is one of our top tips on roofing because if left untouched, leaves get heavy and put unnecessary pressure on your roof. This pressure, over time, can cause problems like water leaks, structural issues, shingle damage, and moss or algae growth. Even if your roof is slanted, if you have a particularly intense storm it’s a good idea to remove debris and leaves manually. Otherwise, your gutters will get overloaded and you might end up needing to repair or replace them altogether. To avoid excess debris and leaves from accumulating on your roof, make sure that you trim any overhanging branches.
The flashing on your roof is a thin material that’s used to help direct water away from areas where it might otherwise accumulate. It’s usually installed around chimneys, skylights, and vents that are scattered around your roof. When your flashing is damaged, it can quickly lead to structural issues and water damage or leaks in your home. The longer the leaks occur, the worse your interior damages are going to get. Make sure and check your flashing for any signs of damage as part of your ongoing roof care. Focus on the flashing itself along with the caulk used to secure it. If it is damaged, contact a roofing professional to get it fixed. If the caulk is missing or cracking, you can simply re-caulk it to secure the seal.
A lot of homeowners don’t realize how important the attic is to the longevity of your roof. However, without proper attic insulation, your roof becomes more susceptible to dangerous ice dams and winter weather. Without insultation, snow and ice begin to melt from the bottom up, which prevents drainage off of your roof. When the weather gets colder again, it leads to a dangerous freeze-thaw cycle that puts too much stress on your roof. Insulation is important to roof care because it helps to protect against ice dams and will ensure that your home is comfortable year-round.
Warm weather is great, but the sun’s powerful UV rays don’t just cause sunburn. Of all of our roofing tips in this post this one is easy to overlook, but overtime, UV rays can damage your roofing materials and make them more susceptible to damage. Knowing that your home is at risk gives you the opportunity to be proactive and work with a professional roofing contractor to take the proper steps in prevention.
One of the best ways to keep your roof in good condition is having a reputable roofing professional. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to figure out who you can trust—especially when there are hundreds of companies online claiming to be the best. If you incur damage to your roof after a particularly harsh storm or are in need of a contractor to perform an inspection, there are a few tips on how to find the right roofing professional for the job.
Your neighbors, friends, and family members all need roofing services. Ask them for referrals. Learning about roofing professionals that have done work for people you know is a great way to get an idea about some of the local companies and the quality of their work. During this time, ask about costs, how easy it was to work with the company, and their end-results. People are more than happy to provide you with honest reviews and it’s a great starting point.
Next, take the time to check the certifications of these companies. You shouldn’t trust a roofing professional that doesn’t have the proper certifications or training to do work on your home. Make sure that they carry the proper licensing and insurance for the work they’re doing so that you’re covered in case something goes wrong. The last thing you want to worry about is ending up in litigation with a contractor when you were just trying to repair a leak.
If you want to call a roofing professional to ask questions, don’t feel pressured to work with them. Just because you talk to a company does not mean you have to choose them for your roofing needs. Ask them as many questions as you need to ensure that you have a full understanding of how the company works and what the process is. If you don’t feel like it’s the right fit, don’t feel pressured to hire them—it’s as simple as that.
Finally, go online and check the ratings for the roofing professional on accredited sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB). If they have high ratings, great. If the ratings are low, it’s best to continue on your search for a more qualified roofing professional.
The best way to get the most out of your roof is through preventative roofing maintenance partnered with a high-quality roofing contractor. Preventative measures are always the best way to mitigate expensive repairs or roofing replacements. Even if you don’t experience any major problems, annual inspections will help you catch minor things early. This is another important tip on roofing–having a professional will help speed up your roofing maintenance and save you money in the long run. Remember, routine inspections are key to preventative maintenance, so call the professionals at Advocate Roofing today. All of our team members have the experience and expertise you want and need for detailed roof inspections and maintenance. If anything shows up in the inspection, our experienced Milwaukee roofing contractors from Advocate Roofing will make sure your repair job is done efficiently and with complete transparency. We pride ourselves on working with integrity and longevity in mind. To contact an experienced roofing contractor from Advocate Roofing, give us a call today at (414) 386-3900. You can also reach out to our customer service hotline, 888-777-ROOF (7663).