Roof Maintenance Made Easy: 8 Steps You Can Perform at Home

Is metal and shingles falling from your roof? Here are a few easy DIY home roof maintenance that you can do.

Is your roof starting to look a little shabby? It may be time to put in a little work.

Doing a little maintenance on your roof can save you loads of money long-term. With some roofing repairs costing upwards of $3,000, it pays to make sure your roof is in working order.

A lot of people consider the roof to be off-limits when it comes to DIY. It doesn’t have to be. There are a lot of easy maintenance tasks that you can handle yourself for your roof. “lendedu.com“

Keep reading to learn eight home roof repairs that will keep your roof in shape.

1. Trim Your Trees

Trees are one of the most overlooked hazards in someone’s yard. When the limbs are left hanging, they run the risk of falling and causing damage.

If you have a tree that has limbs hanging over your roof, you’re one storm away from a limb falling and damaging your home. Trimming your tree to remove these limbs will solve this problem.

Trees also provide access to your roof to rodents. Don’t be surprised when you climb up and find that your roof or chimney is the home for a family of raccoons.

2. Check Your Shingles

If you’re hesitant to go up on your roof, your shingles are a great place to start your roof maintenance. If you can get a good view of your roof, it’s easy to spot damage.

It’s essential to replace damaged shingles as soon as you can. They help protect the inside of your home from the elements. Leaks are commonplace if your shingles aren’t in shape.

Below are the signs that you need to have your singles repaired:

• Missing shingles
• Cracks
• Curling
• Peeling

3. Clean Your Gutters

Cleaning your gutters out isn’t the most pleasant experience, but it’s vital if you want to keep your roof in shape. Your gutters help water drain from your roof to the ground. Without them, water has a hard time escaping from your roof.

If your gutters aren’t cleaned regularly, they run the risk of getting clogged. When this happens, water can start pooling on your roof.

Pooled water is a prime location for mold to grow. If left unchecked, it can get into your home as well.

Water can also discolor your roofing. If you’re a sucker for aesthetics, you don’t want this to happen.

4. Wash Your Roof

Rain isn’t always enough to keep your roof clean. Over time, you may start to notice dark streaks across your roof. This is a sign that you need to have it cleaned.

It isn’t a big deal in the beginning, but it can cause problems over time. The dirt on your roof can lead to algae growth. Over time, this can lead to roof rot.

It isn’t hard to get things clean. Mix bleach and water at a 50/50 ratio and spray your roof. Doing this will kill off any algae growth you have.

5. Look for Leaks

Roof damage isn’t always visible. Sometimes roof damage happens under the surface. Leaks are one of those problems.

To find your leaks, head to the top story of your house or your attic. You’re looking for any signs of water stains. These can be found on the ceiling or trailing down your walls.

If you don’t find any visible signs of leaks, you aren’t done yet. The signs may be in your insulation or your walls. Check your rooms for musty odors or bulging in your walls.

If you find any of these signs, find your leak as soon as you can. The chances are that you’ll need to call a professional to get your leak fixed.

6. Clean Your Roof

There isn’t any way around debris getting on your roof. The problem is that it seems harmless.

Even leaves and small limbs can cause roof damage if left on your roof for too long. The longer you allow debris to stay up there, the bigger chance you have of having an algae problem on your roof.

That isn’t the only problem either. The debris on your roof isn’t the most healthy. Tree limbs that fall die and create disease. Left on their own, they’ll spread wood rot to your roof.

7. Check for Chimney Damage

If you have a chimney in your home, then it’s important to check on its health too. Any damage to your chimney can snowball and create a safety hazard in the future.

Even a simple crack needs to be addressed. Anything that hurts the structural integrity of a chimney can lead to bricks falling out. If enough bricks come loss, your whole chimney could collapse.

If you find any cracks, you can buy a sealer to patch them up. If you have a more severe problem like loose or missing bricks, it may be necessary to bring in a professional to repair your chimney.

8. Get a Roof Inspection

It doesn’t matter if you do it yourself or hire a pro. A regular roof inspection can find problems early before they get out of control.

A good rule of thumb is to do a roof inspection during each season change or after severe storms. You never know when there is damage done that you can’t see. By getting onto your roof to find it, you can’t get repairs out of the way early.

If you don’t want to get onto your roof and are unsure of what to look for, hiring a roof maintenance company to look is an option. A simple inspection won’t cost much and can save you money in the long run.

Take Your Home Roof Repairs Seriously

It may not seem like a big deal at the time, but an improperly maintained roof can lead to more severe problems in the future. Use the home roof repairs above to keep your roof in shape. When you do, you’ll save money in the long term when your roof stands the test of time. Are you looking for more home repair tips? Keep browsing our blog for more.