The most important component of your home isn’t the hardwood floors you installed, the dining room you put together, or the basement you finished, it's your roof! In fact, there are three major components that will determine how well-built your home is. The foundation or the load-bearing portion of your home that blocks harmful groundwater and soil vapor, the walls of your home, and last but not least your roof and the materials that hold it together. Taking the necessary steps to protect your home’s roof is crucial but routine maintenance is often overlooked until something goes wrong. In this article, we’ll take a look at how you can extend the life of your roof, how you can detect potential issues and prevent costly repairs, and how you can save money in the long run by ensuring better energy efficiency.
Whether you’ve recently replaced your roof or are in need of some maintenance tips on your current one here some things you can do to make it last longer.
Water that gets trapped in clogged gutters has nowhere to go except through your shingles and into your home causing damage to your walls, basement, crawl spaces, and attic. By regularly cleaning your gutters, you’ll not only fend off water leaks but you’ll also prevent any foundation or structural damage. Water leaks from messy gutters can also seep into the plywood or fascia boards under your shingles where moisture can get trapped causing mold. Checking your gutters is also a great way to spot potential issues with your roof. If you see granules in your gutters it is typically a sign that your roof's shingles are reaching the end of their life and need to be replaced or repaired. Shingle granules are the outside coating that adds an extra layer of protection and helps bind the shingles together. They also prevent the underlying layers - the asphalt fiberglass mat - from being exposed to sunlight, rain, or snow.
Heavy washing or concentrated water can loosen the shingle granules causing damage to the roof's membrane and those damages may not be covered by your warranty. If you’re trying to clean a stain on your roof it's best to use a soft-bristle brush and a mild detergent mixed with water to softly scrub away any stains. You may then rinse with a standard garden hose in a low-pressure setting to avoid damaging the shingles. If you’re looking to clear debris or remove loose dirt then you can sweep or use a leaf blower to get rid of the litter.
Trees are wonderful for the environment and provide great aesthetic pleasure when it comes to the outside decorations of your home. However, they can wreak havoc on a roof if left unattended. High winds and heavy storms can cause loose branches to fall off and land on your roof resulting in a damaging impact or at the very least scratching your roof. Larger branches that are high enough can also lead a perfect path for critters to make it onto your roof. To avoid this just make sure to trim any overhanging branches that are near or covering your roof. With this said it is best to just have a professional roofing company come out and inspect your roof at least on an annual basis. Keep in mind that roof inspections are typically free so if you do call a professional like Condition One Commercial we’ll inspect your roof for any damages free of charge.
To take the necessary steps in identifying any potential issues to your roof you must first understand what to look for. If you have missing shingles, in time, this will likely lead to a substantial leak. Water leaking into your roof’s decking can warp your roof and the fascia boards underneath it, ruin your attic, and seep into your walls. Keeping an eye out for missing shingles should always be on your radar when checking your roof for damages. Damaged flashing and vents can also be a culprit when it comes to water leaks.
Roof flashing is the thin material, typically consisting of galvanized steel, that is used to block any water from critical areas on your roof. If your roof consists of flashing around skylights, chimneys, or vents you should routinely check for any bending or cracking in the steel. Lastly, while it may not cause direct harm to your home moss, mold, and algae growth on your roof is essentially a ticking time bomb, and is only a matter of time before something goes wrong. While we strongly suggest hiring a professional to remove any moss, mold, or algae you may see on your roof it is always something you can look out for and will typically be pretty obvious. However, the early signs of mossy growth or mold may be a bit harder to spot. If you don’t see any obvious signs of roof algae, moss, or mold check for any discoloration on your roof such as dark black or green stains or streaks. Roof algae can also resemble or look like spots of mold so again if you do notice something out of the ordinary it's best to call a professional immediately so these small issues don’t turn into major problems.
The energy efficiency of your roof depends on a multitude of factors but the key to reducing energy consumption boils down to whether or not your roof materials can effectively mirror or bounce back the sun’s radiation, meaning less heat transferring to your attic. Lighter-colored roofs will certainly reflect more sunlight than darker ones but adding the right insulation, ensuring proper ventilation, and adding energy-efficient roofing materials such as solar shingles or panels will all help to ensure proper energy efficiency, and reduced utility bills. If you’re not sure how to start your home energy audit give us a call and we’ll walk you through the process so you can understand what steps need to be taken for better energy efficiency from your roof and throughout your home.
we are veteran owned & operated
