Performing regular roofing maintenance helps prevent extensive damage to your building. It also nips potential problems in the bud, saving money and stress down the road. Contact Roofing Lafayette LA for professional help.
Curling, buckling or missing shingles indicate wear and tear. Extensive moss or algae growth indicates moisture issues. Flashing around chimneys, vent pipes and skylights should be intact to prevent leaks.
Gutters are a critical part of your roof that performs a vital task: They direct rainwater from the roof to downspouts that control the drainage of water away from the house. Without gutters, rainfall would overflow the roof and cause soffit rot or fascia damage, water in the basement, mold and mildew, and soil erosion that could compromise the foundation of your home.
When your gutters are clogged, water can’t be properly diverted. Instead, it overflows the gutters and spills over the edge, causing a host of issues. It can saturate the soil around the foundation, which in turn causes basement flooding, or it may overflow into the roof overhang and cause the shingles to deteriorate or even collapse. Clogged gutters can also push water under the shingles, which causes moisture in the attic and rotted trim boards.
A good check of your gutters includes determining the slope of each one, as well as the amount of space between them and the wall or fascia of the house. If you have areas where the gutters are overflowing during heavy rainfall, this indicates a clog or that the slope is too shallow.
Inspecting the gutters can also include looking for signs that they aren’t securely attached to the roof or the fascia boards, such as loose sealant at the seams and ends. You might also want to look for space between the gutters and the roof overhang, which could indicate that the rafter hangers or spikes are loose and need to be replaced or re-secured.
If you’re going to do a manual inspection of the gutters, it’s best that you use a ladder with stabilizer arms, or have an assistant to support the ladder and hand you tools as needed. If you don’t feel comfortable climbing on the ladder to clean your gutters, it’s wise to hire a professional roofing contractor to do this work for you. Otherwise, the risks are too high, and you may end up damaging your roof or putting yourself at risk of falling off the ladder. A professional will be able to clean your gutters thoroughly, and will know how to deal with any problems that might arise.
Clean the Roof
The best way to prevent roof damage is by cleaning it on a regular basis. This will keep it looking great and extend its lifespan. But it is important to be careful, as high-pressure water can damage shingles and other materials on your roof. This is why it is best to use a soft washing method or hire a professional.
When you do clean your roof, start by sweeping off any debris. This will help protect against slips and falls and ensure that the cleaning solution reaches any stuck-on grime. Next, rinse it off with standard water. Be sure to also rinse any nearby plants, as the bleach solution can damage or kill them.
Black streaks on your roof are caused by algae, a fungus that is particularly prevalent in warm and humid climates. Regular cleaning of your roof will remove the algae and keep it from degrading your shingle surfaces.
You can clean your roof yourself by using a mild bleach solution. This is the same kind of bleach that you would use to wash whites or scrub a toilet, but it should be mixed with equal parts water and applied with a soft brush or sprayer. Let it sit for 20 minutes and then rinse it off with standard clean water.
In addition to killing algae and removing black streaks, a bleach wash will also kill any moss or lichen growing on your roof. These organisms can actually degrade asphalt shingle surfaces, so getting rid of them is essential for the long-term health of your roof.
A good rinsing is also an opportunity to inspect your roof for any areas that may need repair. If you see any cracked shingles, loose flashing, or other signs of wear, make note of them and have the problem fixed as soon as possible.
Another thing to look for when cleaning your roof is the condition of your caulking. Caulking is designed to prevent water leaks around chimneys, vent pipes, skylights, and other roof penetrations. If your caulking is in poor shape, it should be replaced.
Trim the Trees
Trees provide many aesthetic and environmental benefits to a home, but they can also damage the roof if left unattended. Neglecting tree maintenance can lead to the need for expensive roof repairs, including structural damage and water ingress.
Branches that hang too close to the roof can cause damage by scraping or scratching the shingles. This is a common problem, but it can be prevented by regular pruning or by hiring a professional.
Overhanging branches can also trap moisture against the roofing material, encouraging the growth of algae, moss, and lichen, which can stain or degrade the shingles over time. Regular trimming of the trees will reduce the amount of moisture near the roof surface and minimize the risk of moss, algae, and lichen growth.
In addition, dangling branches can be a serious hazard, especially during storms or high winds. They may break, bend, or fall onto the roof, causing everything from minor shingle damage to structural damage and leaks. In some cases, a fallen tree may even cause the roof to collapse.
A qualified arborist will be able to safely trim the tree limbs that are too close to your house. They can use a ladder or pole pruner to reach the higher branches, which is far safer and more effective than climbing the tree. However, if you aren’t comfortable with climbing the ladder or don’t have the right equipment, it is a good idea to hire an experienced tree service to take care of this task.
In addition to regular thinning and trimming, homeowners should also keep an eye out for any signs of a hazardous tree. This includes any dead or rotting branches, fungus growing on the bark, mushrooms, or other unusual growths. If you notice any of these warning signs, contact a professional tree service immediately to see what options are available. This preventive measure can save you a lot of money and stress in the future.
Clear the Fall Debris
If you have trees around your home, the twigs and leaves they lose fall onto your roof on a regular basis. These items might seem harmless, but they can be quite damaging if left unattended. This is because they can create blockages, prevent water from draining properly and even lead to wood rot or mold. Therefore, it is crucial to clear the debris regularly and especially after a storm.
It’s also important to remove debris from the roof itself on a regular basis. This includes anything that is blown by the wind such as shingles, leaves or other items. This debris can bash into units, hatches or lights on the roof and damage them. In addition, it can create serious safety hazards for people who work on the roof or who are below. A piece of plywood, for example, could hit someone in the head and cause severe injuries.
As you clean the debris, you should also keep an eye out for any shingles that are damaged. These should be replaced immediately, as ignoring them can make the problem worse over time. This is why regular roof inspections are so important, as they can help you spot issues and make repairs before they become more serious.
When it comes to cleaning your roof, it’s best to use a leaf blower rather than going up on the ladder to pick the debris out by hand. It’s important to be careful when using a leaf blower on the roof, though, as it can blow items into chimneys, skylights and other vulnerable parts of or openings on your roof. You should also avoid blowing leaves directly at the shingles themselves, as this can cause them to break.
The gutters on your roof play an important role in keeping the foundation of your home secure. If they are blocked with twigs, branches and other debris, it can cause water to back up into the house, resulting in basement flooding, wood rot and mold growth. It’s important to clean out your gutters regularly and to trim any overhanging branches that might be causing problems.