There are two things that homeowners hate more than anything else, unexpected decay and the costly repairs that accompany them. Here at DHM Exteriors, we want to make sure you get the most out of your roofing and can save on costly repairs and roof replacements. So we’ve put together five helpful tips to help homeowners like you get the most out of your roofing by prolonging its lifespan
1 . Clean your Gutters
While the majority of homeowners already clean their gutters whenever they get full, having a stream of water dripping out of a place it shouldn’t is hardly the primary concern they should have.
Clogged gutters can allow moisture to wear away under the shingles of your roof, seep into your fascia boards, and can even damage your roof deck. All of which can lead to a lot of headaches and costly repairs.
We recommend you clean your gutters thoroughly every few months or so. Another good rule of thumb is to get either onto a roof of a ladder and inspect them for debris after a major rain, snow, or hailstorm as leaves, branches, and ice can easily block drainage pathways and lead to moisture damage for your roof. This is especially important if you have trees in your yard or elsewhere near the house on your property.
If you can’t physically climb your roof or a ladder to clean it, there are many gutter and roof cleaning services available that are far cheaper than replacing your roof tiles and/or fascia boards.
2. Inspect your roofing tiles and attic regularly
It may seem like a useless or menial routine but regularly attending to and inspecting the integrity of your roofing tiles and ceiling seal can help you prevent water damage and costly roofing repairs.
Every season you should go into your attic and check for wet spots, light coming through the roof, and for mold and wood rot. All of these could be signs that your roof is no longer sealed and water could be seeping in through cracks in your roof.
If notice any of these signs you would thoroughly inspect your ceiling from both the interior and exterior of the house. Look for missing or cracked tiles, fractures in your roof sheathing, or shifted or misplaced elements that threaten the seal of the roof.
Identifying these problems early can save homeowners thousands of dollars in repairs by preventing structural decay before it takes place. It is far easier to replace a missing tile than it is to replace the supports and ceiling of your house.
We recommend you check at least once each season and after violent hail or snowstorms to see if anything is damaged/dripping.
3. Manage plant growth on your roof
One of the biggest killers to your roof’s lifespan is plant growth taking hold. Moss, Algae, and Lichen love wet and shaded areas and will happily make themselves at home on and within your roof.
Plants such as these can capture and store moisture inside your roof and lead to the decay of your fascia boards, roofing tiles, and roof deck, prematurely killing the integrity of your roofing.
If you notice signs of plants taking hold in your roofing tiles, support structures, or surrounding your gutters you can either call a professional to remove the fauna and apply preventative zinc and copper solutions or you can do it yourself while practicing proper ladder and chemical safety precautions.
4. Invest in Coatings and Sealants
I know spending even more money on preventing something that hasn’t happened yet can seem like a poor use of your resources but investing in regular applications of coatings and sealants can save you a ton of money in the long term.
Coatings and sealants provide yet another layer of protection for your roof against UV damage, weathering, and water intrusion. This can erase a lot of roofing issues before they begin to manifest and cut down on repair costs over the lifetime of the roof.
Regularly inspecting the caulking around your roof flashing is also important for preventing water leakage around your vulnerable areas such as chimneys and vents. If you notice cracking or missing caulk makes sure to immediately remove and replace it with a fresh coat. We recommend checking your caulking on your seasonal gutter and plant growth checks.
5. Keep the Winter out
Cold weather months can be hard on your roof as cascades of snow and ice melt and refreeze over and over. During this process is it possible for the refrozen ice to create what is known as an “ice dam”.
An “Ice Dam” is formed when the warmer portions of your roof (often at the apex) melt snow faster and send water down to the colder portions of your roof (often parts protruding from the body of the house) which are still frozen leading to the runoff being retained and refrozen during the night creating a dam of ice that prevents water from leaving your roof.
This can cause heavy backups of ice and snow which can threaten the structural integrity of your roof as well as increase your chances of water-related deterioration similar to that of a clogged gutter.
Especially in states like Colorado and Wyoming which receive heavy snowfall during winter months, it is important to regularly clear snow off of the roof of your house and break up Ice Dam formations with roof rakes or shovels.
Another way to prevent Ice Dams is to ensure your attic is fully insulated to limit the formation of hot spots and more evenly melt snowfall.
