Buying your own house brings a lot of joy. At the same time, it comes with a lot of responsibilities that can be scary, especially if you have purchased your house for the first time.
One of the primary responsibilities is to ensure the roof of your home is in good shape. In this article, we are going to talk about 6 things you should know about your roof as a homeowner.
Schedule Roof Inspections
Preventive maintenance is essential if you want to avoid major expensive repairs down the line. It is a good idea to hire the services of a professional roofer annually to have your roof inspected.
The professional will inform you of the areas of your roof that require repair or maintenance before the problems get worse. Besides, preventive measures can help you extend the life of your roof.
Plan your Budget
Although the structure of your house may last centuries, the roof won’t last more than a few decades. Depending upon the roofing material and your maintenance schedule, the roof of your house may last between 15 and 50 years.
Before purchasing, don’t forget to ask the owner about the age of the house, recent repairs performed, and warranty information. You may want to remember this information while planning your household budget down the road.
If the roof of your house is quite old, you may have to get it replaced in a few years. Therefore, you should keep this point in mind while setting your budget.
Clean your Roof
When it comes to protecting your roof against damage, make it a habit to clear your roof of twigs, pine needles, branches, and leaves. After the storm, you should hang on until the roof is dry before cleaning it.
If you find moss or algae on the shingles, make sure you get it cleaned as soon as possible. Moss and algae can damage your roof shingles if ignored for a long period.
Don’t go the DIY route to be on the safe side. We suggest that you hire the services of a professional roofer unless you have years of roof cleaning experience under your belt.
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Inspect your Gutter System
Your roof gutters carry a lot of importance when it comes to roof maintenance. The role of downspouts and gutters is to direct rainwater to the ground to prevent flooding, pooling, and property damage. Therefore, you may want to monitor your gutter system and take steps to maintain it.
If the gutters have cracks, gaps, or holes, rainwater may collect near your house. This pool of water may trigger corrosion or damage the foundation of your property.
Besides, gutters filled with debris may prevent water drainage through the downspout. As a result, rainwater may seep under the roof shingles, which may cause roof damage.
Therefore, it is a great idea to clean your gutters regularly and inspect them for any signs of damage. However, if you have a multi-story house, hiring the services of a professional is much better.
Besides, if you have trees around your house, the roof may require more frequent cleaning and inspection. The idea is to ensure your roof gutters don’t get clogged up with leaves or pine needles.
Look for Leaks
After ice accumulation, heavy snowfall, and thunderstorms, you must inspect your roof for any signs of damage. Take a closer look at the chimneys, flashing, vents, and skylights as these areas are more likely to have leaks.
Apart from this, you may also inspect the interior for any signs of leakage, such as a discolored wall, bubbling paint, or water stains. Other common signs include the growth of mold, curled shingles, granule loss, and damaged flashing, to name a few.
Call a Professional
Once you have identified an issue with your roof, you must call a professional in a timely manner. Leaving roof repairs to a professional is a stroke of genius as they know how to safely repair different types of roofs.
Besides, it may also prevent you guys from slip and fall accidents, which may have grave consequences for you and your family down the line.
In short, if you consider these 6 things, you can take good care of your roof. If your roof is leaking or some of the shingles are broken, we suggest that you hire a professional roofing company in Barrie for inspection and repairs.
