How to Maintain Your Roof: Tips for Homeowners

Clean Your Gutters

Clogged gutters can result to water backup, which could bring about roof leaks and water damage. By cleaning your gutters, you enable the water to freely flow and not pool, hence saving your both your roof and foundation from possible damage.

How to Clean:

• Flush the leaves, twigs, and other debris in gutters and downspouts.
• Flush the gutters with water to loosen any remaining debris.
• Look for signs of damage or leaking in the gutter system.
• Tip: Install gutter guards—screens or covers that fit over the gutters—to reduce buildup and cleaning frequency.

Trim Overhanging Branches

Overhanging tree branches scrape and sometimes even damage your shingles, especially in the wind. They also serve as a highway to your roof and attic for animals.

How to Trim:

• Using a long-handled pruning saw, trim branches near or touching your roof.
• Keep tree limbs at least 10 feet from your roof.
• Tip: Consider hiring a professional arborist should the branches be too high or otherwise inaccessible to safely trim.

Remove Moss and Algae

Moss and algae hold water on the roof, leading to deterioration and eventually causing leaks. It is thus prudent to clear them out for a healthy roof.

How to Remove:

• In a sprayer, mix a solution of equal parts of water and bleach. Spray onto any affected areas.
• Leave it on the area for 15-20 minutes before gently scrubbing the area with a soft-bristle brush.
• Rinse it thoroughly with clean water.
• Tip: Along the peak of your roof, install zinc or copper strips to help prevent further moss and algae growth.

Flashing Check and Repair

Flashing seals and protects joints and edges of your roof from water intrusion. If flashing wears out and becomes loose, leaks and water damage can occur.

How to Check:

• Flashing around chimneys, vents, skylights, and other roof penetrations should be checked for rust spots, damages, or broken areas.
• Reattach any loose flashing with roofing nails; seal any openings with applications of roofing cement.
• Tip: If the flashing is damaged, replace it to assure a watertight seal.

Inspect Attic Ventilation

Proper attic ventilation will regulate the temperature and moisture level avoiding probable problems like ice dams in winter and heat damage in summer months.

How to Inspect:

• Ensure that attic vents are free of blockages.
  Provide Adequate
• Ventilation in the Attic Space Intake vents at the eaves and exhaust vents at the roof ridge
• Tip: Install more vents if your attic is extraordinarily hot or humid.

Seal and Insulate

Proper sealing and insulation in your attic can help you reduce heat loss in winter and lower your cooling costs in summer. It may also prevent ice dams and moisture buildup.

How to Seal:

• Seal gaps or cracks around attic vents, chimneys, and other penetrations using caulk or expanding foam.
• Keep your attic well insulated with materials like fiberglass batts or blown-in insulation.
• Tip: Consider hiring a professional that can properly assess the state of your attic insulation and sealing. Provide an upgrade if necessary.

Regular maintenance is required, which will keep this roof in top condition and allow it to give its best performance. This can be done by regular inspections of the roof, cleaning the gutters, trimming of overhanging branches, removing moss and algae, checking on and repairing the flashing, and ensuring correct attic ventilation and insulation.