Maintenance Tips for Extending Your Roof’s Lifespan
Your roof is easily one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your lifetime, so it’s only logical that you keep it in its best condition for as long as possible. The key to doing this is through regular maintenance, and addressing any roofing problem that you find in a timely manner.
Why Do Your Own Maintenance?
Having your roof professionally maintained and doing your own maintenance are two different things. It helps to think of it in terms of your annual physical. You go to a doctor, who runs a full checkup, and later prescribes necessary medication and gives you advice on what to (or what not to) eat, how much exercise you should get, and others. In between visits, you follow the doctor’s advice and keep an eye on your blood pressure and weight, and take your medication regularly.
Professional roofing maintenance is akin to those visits. Professional roofers like ourselves perform a complete inspection of your roof, and immediately address any problem we may find. Doing your own maintenance is the equivalent of monitoring your weight, eating habits, and amount of exercise. Since these maintenance stops happen every few years, it depends on you, the homeowner, to keep an eye on your roof’s condition.
Inspecting Your Roof
Climbing your own roof is, of course, dangerous and is therefore out of the question. You can still visually inspect your roof from the ground and look for problem signs by taking a good pair of binoculars and look out for loose, cracked, cupped, or missing shingles. Trim tree branches that are too close to the roof as they may poke the shingles and cause further damage.
Check your attic and focus on two things: insulation and ventilation. Starting with insulation, look out for signs of moisture damage, such as discolored insulation and water stains. Damaged insulation should be replaced soon as it could compromise your roof’s performance. Proper attic ventilation can help keep your attic moisture levels to acceptable levels, so you may need to have a fan installed if you don’t have one already.
An annual roof inspection – plus another following a storm – should be enough to keep tabs on your roof’s condition. Letting your roofing contractors know of your roof’s current condition and addressing problems in a timely manner should help extend your roof’s lifespan. If you would like to know more about how we at Kroll Construction can resolve any roofing problem that you find, call us today at (888) 338-6340 or fill out our contact form to schedule your free consultation and estimate. We serve homeowners in and near Detroit.
