How Roofing Maintenance Can Help Extend the Life of Your Roof

Keeping up with roofing maintenance can help extend the life of your roof. It also reduces stress and expenses down the road. Even small cracks or nicks can become major problems that are very costly to repair.

Check for moss or mold, standing water, faulty flashing (the metal pieces that cover chimney areas, dormers and vent pipes), and leaking gutters. Clean gutters help to divert water away from the house, reducing foundation and basement moisture issues. Contact Pikesville Roofing for professional help.

If you live in an area where severe storms occur frequently, it is especially important to inspect your roof on a regular basis. Whether you are looking for signs of storm damage or simply looking to make sure the roof is performing as it should, the shingles are often where problems start and stop.

The first thing you should do is walk around your house from the ground and look at the shingles for signs of wear and tear, aging or discoloration. Then get up on a ladder and visually inspect the entire roof, taking special care to check the areas where water pools after rainstorms, since this is where the plywood beneath the shingles can be damaged and then leak into your home, ruining insulation and ceilings.

Pay particular attention to shingle areas that are shaded from sunlight by tree limbs, mountain ridges or other parts of the roof. These shingles will likely have less of a chance to be exposed to the sun and will be more susceptible to heat buildup that can cause them to degrade.

Check for granule loss, which is another common shingle issue. Dark spots on a roof may mean that the special granules that give shingles their color have been scraped off, possibly by wind-borne debris. This leaves the underlying asphalt exposed to the elements and can lead to deterioration.

Also check for shingle tabs that lift easily, which is another indication that the shingle has been damaged and should be replaced. Also watch for shingle blistering, which is caused by moisture that has made its way into the shingle and can lead to rot and leaks.

During your visual inspection, try to gently tug at the shingles in different places and note how easily they come apart. This is a sign that the shingle has been damaged by extreme weather conditions, improper installation or simply age and wear. If you notice any of these problems, it is vital to have them repaired as quickly as possible to prevent further damage to your roof and leaks into your home.

Clean the Gutters

Gutters are an important part of the roof system, helping to guide rainwater away from the home. However, clogged gutters can cause more than just a few water spots on the wall. Without regular cleaning, they can lead to damage to the structure of the house, including foundation cracks and basement flooding.

Cleaning your gutters is an important task that should be included in your annual roofing maintenance checklist. However, it can be a messy job that requires climbing a ladder with a ladder extension and a gutter scoop or trowel to remove the debris from the gutters. If this is not something you want to do on your own, consider a professional gutter cleaning service.

Clean gutters help to keep the roof dry and prevent water from seeping under the shingles and damaging the wood underneath. Keeping the gutters free of debris will also reduce the risk of insects and other pests living in the wet, decaying debris.

Gutters that are filled with debris provide an ideal nesting place for rodents, ants and other insects. In addition, the wet rotting materials can encourage mold and moss growth on the roof and fascia boards.

The most common reason for a clogged gutter is leaves, twigs and other debris that falls from nearby trees. However, lack of regular cleaning can also contribute to gutter clogging. To prevent clogs, clean the gutters regularly and trim any overhanging branches that could deposit debris into the gutters.

Gutter guards can also help to prevent clogs and reduce the need for cleaning. Some of these are available as DIY kits, while others are professionally installed by a roofer.

If you decide to do the cleaning yourself, it is best to work on a dry day with mild weather conditions. Start by positioning the ladder in a stable and safe spot and find a spotter to support you as you work. Work in sections, clearing out the gutters and cleaning up the debris as you go. Once you have finished, be sure to direct the downspouts away from the house to ensure that rainwater is being properly guided away.

Trim the Trees

When trees are too close to your roof, it can trap moisture against the shingles. This can cause the shingles to degrade, which may lead to mold and algae growth. It can also prevent rainwater from evaporating quickly, which can lead to shingle rot. By regularly having the trees around your home trimmed, you can avoid these issues. In addition, it can help with your roof upkeep by preventing branches from falling or touching the shingles.

Branches that are close to your roof can drop debris that slows the flow of rainwater and wears away the granules on shingles, which can lead to shingle damage. They can also rub against the shingles and scratch or discolor them over time. If left unchecked, this can lead to the need for a new NJ roofing contractor sooner rather than later.

It’s recommended that you trim large shade and evergreen trees on a regular basis, ideally every two to seven years or as needed. The most common type of pruning is called crown thinning, which involves reducing the overall density of a tree’s canopy by removing specific branches. This will allow for increased sunlight penetration and improved air circulation, as well as reducing stress on selected limbs due to weight, wind or ice.

The best time to prune a tree is in the winter, when it is dormant and less likely to be damaged by storms or other environmental factors. It is also important to use a professional tree service to ensure that you are not over-pruning the trees, which can damage them. When a branch needs to be removed, make a cut on the underside of the tree, just beyond what is known as the branch collar. This will act as a barrier, and it will prevent the bark from being torn off the branch if it falls during the cutting process.

Inspect the Chimney

The chimney is a major element of your roof, and it’s important to regularly inspect it for damage and wear. Look for stains on the exterior brick, which could be caused by excess smoke from previous chimney fires or even just a single fire that didn’t burn hot enough to remove all of the creosote. Look for cracked or missing bricks, mortar that is loosening or falling off and other signs of serious masonry problems. You also need to visually inspect the concrete chimney crown and the flashing that seals the gap between the chimney and your roof.

Check for rust on the flashing and any parts of the chimney that are exposed to the elements. If you see rust spots, splotches of water or any other signs of deterioration on the exterior of the chimney, it’s time to call in a professional for an inspection and repair.

A Level I chimney inspection is the most basic, and it covers all of the easily accessible parts of the chimney structure and flue. The inspector will look at the masonry and bricks to determine whether any of them need repointing, and he’ll also look for a crack in the flue liner or excessive creosote buildup.

If you’re noticing signs of deterioration on the exterior or interior of your chimney, it’s time to schedule a Level Two inspection. Your chimney sweep will use more sophisticated tools to examine hard-to-reach areas and ensure that your chimney is in good shape, which may require removing materials inside your home like drywall or ceilings. A Level Two inspection is required before you sell your home, and it’s wise to get one after any dramatic weather event that might have affected the chimney and your roof.

A roof maintenance program will help your building withstand the elements and keep its value, but you need to take a proactive approach to prevent any problems in the first place. That means trimming tree branches that are overhanging the roof, examining the condition of your chimney and ensuring that all of the flashing and vents are watertight.