Spring Cleaning Roof checklist

Keeping up with roof maintenance requires a yearly checkup. This can take place at the end of winter or the end of fall, depending upon the climate in which you reside. It’s an all-inclusive list, with jobs that may need to be done during the upcoming seasons and all of this spring cleaning is main. 

• Check and clean gutters

• Trim branches away from the home

• Check shingles

• Look for mold

• Inspect the roof inside and out

• Look for general wear and tear

By maintaining your roof along these lines, you can extend the life of your roof, while also engaging problems before they become expensive projects. Below, you’ll find a little more information about each point. 

Check and Clean Gutters

This should be done each year in order to maintain the gutters. They’re the first line of defense when it comes to roofing because they allow water to flow away from the roof itself. However, clogged gutters prevent this, and moreover, they’re quite heavy. This leads to wear on the brackets holding the gutter to the roof, and can also eventually lead to breaking away of the gutter. 

Trim Branches

If you have trees near your house, it’s important to keep branches trimmed up and away from the roof itself. While trees and their shade can lower cooling bills in the summer, tree branches that touch or shed leaves onto the roof can shorten its life. They also act as easy stepping stones for outdoor rodents, such as squirrels, which can make a mess of the roof. 

Check Shingles

Shingles have a shelf life. They are made to be disposable over the lifetime of your roof. However, that shelf life is longer when you can maintain the overall fabric of the roof. While it’s easy to spot curling or missing shingles, there are a couple of other problems that can come to light. Blistering, buckling, and staining of shingles all indicate moisture problems that can cause serious damage to your roof if not mitigated immediately. These issues tend to crop up slowly, but once they are apparent to all, it’s usually a sign that the damage has progressed. 

Check for Mold

Mold can be a tricky issue to deal with unless it’s caught early. If mold or mildew is present, it can indicate a persistent problem with moisture. While there are preventative measures you can take to prevent mold from spreading, if it has already spread, there are other issues in play. 

Inspect the Roof Inside and Out

The roof is more than just the surface shingles. It runs from the interior struts, through several layers. Plus, it includes things like the soffit, the gutters, and other parts. Thus, when inspecting the roof, it’s important to check it from the interior. 

Primarily, what you look for are: spots of moisture or ice insides the roof, which can indicate an issue with moisture condensing and freezing during the winter; any light filtering in, which can indicate a hole that has been made by an animal burrowing during the winter; any issues with insulation that may cause excess moisture or items like gapping. Each of these issues should be immediately looked into and remedied. 

Check for General Wear and Tear

This is the perhaps the most important. While you want to be certain to mitigate any apparent problems, this also alerts you to future needs of your roof. Look for potential areas of curling or loose shingles. While it may not be important to replace them immediately, it’s something to keep in mind. As well, when you clean the gutters, inspect the hardware with which it’s attached to the roof. Any loose or misshapen brackets should be remedied immediately. 

If you’re ready to have your roof inspected or treat a damaged area, we can help. Call us today at 913-850-6556