5 Tips for Maintaining Your Roof

by Kevin Smith Author

As a homeowner you know how important it is that you take the necessary steps to protect every aspect of your property. This means you need to keep up with the day-to-day stuff (like mowing your lawn), but you also need to perform regular maintenance on your roof. A lot of people don't think about their roofs until something happens, but that can lead to far bigger repair bills later on. Here are some simple things you can do to protect your roof, home, and family.

1. Perform Your Own Inspections

Periodically, it's a good idea to inspect your roof. Walk around your house taking care to look over your entire roof, using binoculars if necessary. Look for any part of your roof that's sagging, or where you might find standing water. Also, check to see if any of your shingles are warped or curled at the ends, and take not of any bare patches. If you catch problems like these soon enough, can probably get tiles replaced without having to replace your whole roof.

2. Clean the Gutters

You might not like it, but you need to clean your gutters. Especially after a storm, your gutters need to be cleared, so that rainwater can exit safely from your roof. Clogged gutters can result in water building up on your roof and damaging it. Also, take notice if there are any shingle granules in your gutters. A few are acceptable, but if you notice a sudden spike in the amount of granules, call a roofing company in Bonita Springs, FL, for an inspection.

3. Clear Overhanging Branches

If trees get too close to your roof, the branches can brush up against it, damaging the tiles. Even worse, the leaves and small branches can fall onto your roof allowing water to gather. Be sure to trim all the trees closest to your house.

4. Check Your Attic

After a storm, visit your attic to see if any leaks have developed and examine the beams to see if there's any sagging. Enter the attic on a sunny day as well. If you notice sunlight entering, then you know you should have your roof inspected.

5. Look for Peeling Paint

A lot of leaks won't show up in your house, but will show up in other places. If you notice paint peeling or bubbling outside or inside your home, then there's probably a leak somewhere that's gotten into your walls.

Following these simple steps — and calling a roofing company in Bonita Springs, FL, at the first sign of trouble — is the best way to ensure that your roof stays in great shape.