How to Develop Your Roof Maintenance Routine

Your roof is your home’s first line of defense against wind, rain, hail, and heat. It’s regularly exposed to weather hazards and other harsh elements, all of which contribute to its damage and deterioration. If you want to keep your roof in top condition, you need to develop a regular maintenance routine.

Roof maintenance is the periodical checking of all the vulnerable areas on your roof that could be susceptible to damage. It is critical to preventing roof problems and keeping your roof in good condition for years to come.

Because maintenance is so vital to preserving your healthy roof, it should be done each spring, fall, and after any major storm. 

With over 30 years of roofing experience, we’ve seen what can happen when homeowners fail to maintain their roofs: leaks, moss and algae growth, missing shingles, early decay, and more. We want to stress the importance of developing a maintenance routine so homeowners, like you, can protect their roofs and avoid these problems.

Listed below are two tips you can use to develop your maintenance schedule, plus three signs you need an inspection outside of your regular routine. Let’s get started.

Figuring Out Your Schedule

You might assume a roof needs attention only when it’s damaged or leaking. However, a regular maintenance routine can help you avoid that damage in the first place. 

But how “regular” is a regular maintenance routine? Is roof maintenance something you can do on your own? Honestly, a good routine includes both biannual maintenance and biyearly professional inspections. Let’s take a look at what both look like to help you develop your schedule:

1. Maintenance

Tasks like cleaning your gutters, trimming your trees, and inspecting your attic for signs of water damage should be performed twice a year. If you feel comfortable on a ladder and your home is less than two stories tall, you can actually perform these maintenance tasks on your own.

Read this article to learn more self-maintenance tips you can use to keep your roof in good working conditions for years to come. However, if you can’t maintain it on your own, you can always hire a professional roofer to help you.

2. Inspections

Even with a regular maintenance routine, it’s a good idea to have your roof professionally inspected at least once every two years. This will allow your contractor to catch any hidden issues you might’ve missed during your maintenance routine, helping to ensure a safe roof over your head.

A professional will look for curling/blistering shingles, popped nails, cracked caulking, damaged flashing, and more to help you prevent further roof damage. Read this article o learn more about how a professional roofer can benefit your maintenance routine.

To further emphasize the importance of developing a good schedule, here’s a list of the benefits you’ll get by committing to timely roof inspections and maintenance:

• Increased roof lifespan
• Potential problems identified early
• Existing problems are prevented from getting worse
• You’ll save more money in the long-run
• You’ll have peace of mind

When to Take Action

Even if you’ve developed a maintenance routine, there may come a time when you’ll need to get your roof inspected outside of your regular schedule. Let’s go over three signs you’re in need of an immediate roof inspection:

1. Visible Damage

Wet spots in the attic, stains on your ceiling, or a sagging roof are all obvious signs that your roof is leaking and needs an inspection. However, be on the lookout for small signs as well. What looks like a tiny spot on your ceiling can actually be a warning sign for a much larger underlying issue. 

2. Inclement Weather

Experiencing a hail storm, hurricane, or any kind of extreme weather can leave you worried about the state of your home. To get peace of mind, you’ll need a proper roof inspection.

Problems like fallen trees, missing shingles, and roof leaks are easy to spot. However, smaller forms of damage can fly under the radar until they develop into more serious issues. A quality contractor will inspect your roof for hidden damage and inform you of any needed repairs to help you weather the next storm.

3. Granule Loss

If you have asphalt shingles and find tiny pebbles in your gutters, it’s time for an inspection. While they might look like sand, those little granules are actually what protect your roof from dangerous UV rays. Granule loss indicates that your roof’s lifespan might be coming to an end, but regular maintenance can give you a few more years.

When's the Last Time You Had a Roof Inspection?

Now that you know the importance of regularly scheduled roof maintenance and inspections, it’s never been a better time to develop your roof care routine. Even if you haven’t had your roof checked in years, the sooner you start, the better.

If you plan on performing some of your own roof maintenance, that’s great! However, if you want to hire a professional, you may be wondering how to find the best roofer for your maintenance routine. Our advice? Hire local! 

Because of their local experience, they’ll know the best practices for maintaining roofs in your area. Read this article to learn more about the benefits of hiring a local roofing company.

If you live in Raleigh and need roof maintenance, give us a call! On average, we work with over 900 homeowners per year who are looking for a high-quality roofing experience, just like you. If you want a free inspection or to learn more roof maintenance tips, don’t hesitate to fill out the form below. We’d be happy to help.