Roof care is something a lot of homeowners struggle with. Since it is hard to access and relatively challenging to inspect, the roof doesn’t get the attention it needs. When problems go unnoticed, they develop into bigger issues and soon the homeowner ends up paying a lot more for repairs than they would have had they just found out the problem earlier.
Here are a few tips to help you manage roof health more efficiently and keep your roof looking brand new for many years to come.
Gutters
The first thing to check is the gutters. You can easily check the condition of the gutters from the ground so you don’t have to get on the roof for this part of the job. Just get a ladder to inspect the upper portion of the gutters and install gutter guards if you don't already have these in place. Gutter guards help keep leaves, sticks, and debris out of the gutter which often causes the gutter to get blocked.
You also want to check all the joints in the gutter system and also inspect the condition of the pan of the gutter. Leaks tend to develop most commonly around joints or holes and tears in the pan of the gutter.
Tiles
The bulk of the roof surface is going to be covered in tiles. In some homes, there may be metal sheets instead of tiles. The first thing to do from the ground is to visually inspect the tiles on the roof. You are looking for any tiles that look like they might be getting detached from the base, and for any missing tiles or other abnormalities on the surface of the roof. Once you locate the problem areas, you can get on the roof for a closer look or have a roofing company help you out in this process. This can be tricky and a bit risky so make sure you have someone with you on the ground below—and be sure to wear the right safety gear.
Once you’re on the roof, look for any loose or missing tiles and replace or repair them as necessary. Keep an eye out for watermarks on tiles. This is often a sign of leakage happening below the surface of the tile. If you see any water stains, be sure to inspect that area properly and address any leakage issues or water clogging issues that may be happening.
Roof Cleaning
While you’re up on the roof looking at tiles and making repairs, this will also be a good opportunity to clean the entire roof. If you see any dirt, debris, leaves, sticks, or any other kind of dirt on the roof, brush it all off. The debris places extra weight on the roof which will not only damage your tiles but can also damage the supporting infrastructure. This is also a good time to clean any algae, stains, or fungus on the roof using a good roof washing liquid, a pressure washer, and a hard bristled brush. You can get pre-made solutions from your local hardware store or you can make your own using soda, vinegar, soap, and water.
Apply the mixture on, brush it thoroughly with a brush, and then wash off with some fresh water. If you have a pressure washer, that will make your life easier and get you much better results. Make sure all your tiles are properly secure before using a pressure washer, otherwise they will just get blown off.
Insulation
If you access the roof from the inside of the house, you will be able to see all the supporting infrastructure and if you have any roofing insulation, you will be able to inspect that as well. Sometimes the roof doesn’t show any signs of leakage but the insulation underneath does.
The first step is to repair the roof and the second step is to address any weak spots on the inside of the roof. If you see any cracks or insect infestations in the supporting beams, get a professional to help you out. A faulty roof base can be extremely dangerous so you want to treat this as soon as possible.
Taking care of your roof can be a lot of work so if you don’t have the time, and you don’t want to risk your own safety either, it would be a good idea to get a specialist. You can first get in touch with a roof inspector to analyze the roof and then get a specialist technician to help you with the problems that the inspector points out. If you have large trees near the house and there is a chance that their leaves or branches could fall onto the roof, you want to get those cleared away as well.