As a resident of central Alberta, you know how tough the weather can be on your home. Your roof is your first line of defense against the wind and thunderstorms of the summer and the ice and snow of the frigid Alberta winter. All of this takes a serious toll, but with proper roof maintenance, your roof will stay in better shape for longer.
It’s sad to say, but most homeowners neglect their roofs. In part, this is due to the fact that not everyone is comfortable getting on their roof to do the required maintenance. Other people just don’t know what maintenance needs to be done to prevent leaks, shingle damage, and rotting.
In this post, we’re going to help you by giving you 7 essential roof maintenance tips to extend the life of your roof. Depending on what your roof is made of – metal, asphalt shingles, clay tiles, etc. – it should last up to 50 years. Follow along and your roof will live a full lifespan.
1. Clean Your Guttering
Although they aren’t technically part of your roof, our first tip is to clean your gutters on a regular basis. Typically, when we think of clogged and overflowing gutters, we think of the havoc that they can wreak on a home’s foundation, as well as its exterior.
The problems can go up as well. As the leaves and other debris piles up, an excess of moisture is inundating your roof, which can start to rot your roof tiles, sheathing, and rafters. No matter what type of roof you have, replacing rafter beams will cost you plenty of money.
It’s much easier to climb up the ladder with a trowel and a bucket twice per year to clear the debris up. If you don’t feel confident cleaning your own gutters, there are plenty of local companies that can do it for you.
2. Clear Off Debris
In a perfect world, all of the debris that falls on your roof either gets swept away or falls into your guttering for you to clear up later. Unfortunately, this is never the case in Edmonton, as summer and fall conditions tend to bring leaves, sticks, and whatever else the birds drop on your roof.
As soon as you start to notice debris on your roof, you should take the time to clear it off. This is especially true with moss and algae, which may look nice, but they allow moisture to fester and degrade your roofing materials.
Even on metal roofs, which are much more durable than most other roofing types, you need to remove sticks and clear off dirt, leaves, mildew, and other stains.
3. Cut Branches
When you install a new roof, it’s in your best interest to trim the branches of any overhanging tree limbs. As the weather starts to get cold and windy in Edmonton, tree branches are sure to die and fall off. If they’re hanging over your roof, this could result in severe damage.
Trees also drop plenty of leaves, which harbor moisture after they land on your roof. When it comes to falling sticks, seeds, and leaves, you also have to think about the squirrels and rodents that they could attract.
4. Inspect Attic Insulation and Ventilation
Regular roof maintenance isn’t exclusive to the exterior of your home. You’ve also got to inspect the attic to ensure your roof isn’t vulnerable to any issues on the inside of the home.
In particular, you need to make sure that the attic insulation and ventilation are up to snuff. A properly insulated and ventilated attic isn’t just a boon for your energy bills, it’s essential to promoting airflow and preventing ice dams in the winter months.
When you’ve got hot and cold patches under your roof, ice will pile up in certain areas to form ice dams. These are harmful in that they concentrate moisture on your roof and prevent melting snow and ice from draining properly. Often, it ends with leaks and damaged roofing materials under the weight of the ice.
5. Inspect the Flashing
Roof flashing is an integral aspect of your roof’s architecture, connecting two disparate pieces and covering up seams in the process. When it’s functioning properly, it prevents leaking and roof rot.
Flashing is prone to peeling and cracking over time, so you have to inspect it on a regular basis. If you notice that your flashing is damaged or missing, call a roofing professional to have it re-caulked or replaced as soon as possible.
6. Make Roof Repairs Promptly
Whether it’s your flashing that’s damaged or you’re missing roofing tiles, you need to make these repairs promptly. The longer you wait, the better chance there’ll be that these small repairs become bigger, more expensive ones.
For example, when you’ve got a small leak in your roof, it might not seem like an urgent problem. While you’re waiting for the right time to contact a roofing company to make the repairs, the moisture is slowly infiltrating your home, which leads to mold and structural issues.
What was a simple leak may now be the root cause of a sagging roof. With mold, there are all sorts of health risks involved with it spreading in the home.
7. Get an Annual Roof Inspection
The best tip we can give is to hire a professional roofing company to do a thorough inspection of your roof at least once per year. In Edmonton, it’s smart to have it done twice per year – once before winter and once after.
Having a professional set of eyes on your roof will prevent any early degradation. They’ll know what to look for and exactly what to do if they find any problems. You won’t have to worry about the longevity of your roof when you get a professional inspection.
Take Roof Maintenance Seriously and You’ll Be Rewarded
If you look after your roof with regular roof maintenance, it’ll protect you for years to come. As one of Edmonton’s premier metal roof installers, Alberta’s Permanent Roofing Ltd. has been serving the community since 2007.
Whether you need roof repairs and maintenance or you’re looking to invest in a roof that can stand up to Alberta’s harsh weather, contact us and we’ll give you a free quote today.