How to Maintain Your House Roofs

Having a good roof is important for any house, and there are a few steps to take to ensure that your roof is in good condition. First, you should inspect your roof to see if it needs any repair. This includes checking the gutters and chimney for leaks and other damages. It would help if you tried to prevent black algae from growing on your roof.

Cleaning the Gutters

Having clean gutters keeps your house roofs in top shape. Besides preventing leaks, cleaning your gutters can also prevent water from leaking into your foundation. A clogged gutter can result in serious damage to your roof and foundation.

Keeping your gutters clean is a good idea, but it can be challenging. If you need more confidence in your ability to do it yourself, hire a professional or a local roof repair. Some companies will come out and clean your gutters for you.

The best time to clean your gutters is in the spring. However, you may need to clean your gutters more often, especially in areas with trees. During the winter months, ice dams can form on your gutters. The water may also pour over the sides of your gutters and stain the exterior of your home.

If you last cleaned your gutters a while ago, there’s a good chance that they’re clogged. This can lead to some problems, including water damage to your interior, a cracked foundation, damaged siding that will need the help of siding contractors, and more damage. You’ll need to clean your gutters twice a year to keep your roof in good condition.

Checking for Leaks and Damages Regularly

Performing a regular checkup can save you a ton of money and hassle in the long run. Luckily for you, you’re not alone in this predicament. A survey of 2,000 Americans found that nearly half of us spend more on utilities than we did in the past. Leaks are a common culprit, and they can cost you a pretty penny if they’re not caught in time. So, the best way to keep your water bills in check is to make sure you’re catching the leaks in the first place.

Checking for leaks and other nasties is a great way to avoid costly property damage, so you’ll want to pay special attention to your roof, windows, gutters, and siding. If you’re a homeowner, make sure to check your irrigation systems as well regularly. Also, ensure you’re getting your water meter checked out to ensure you’re not being billed for water that doesn’t exist.

Clean Your Roof

Washing the roof is an important maintenance tip for shingle roofs. Your roof will eventually seem soiled, with long, dark streaks extending from the peak to the eave. The algae on your house are growing here. Algae won’t harm your shingles immediately, but if you let it grow for a long enough period, it will progressively ruin them. Spray a mixture of 50 percent water and 50 percent bleach on your roof to eliminate these tiny plant-like creatures. The bleach will quickly kill the algae, but you should also put copper strips directly below the top of your roof. When it rains, copper molecules will flow down your roof and kill any algae that could be planning a comeback.

Make Chimney Repairs

Check for cracks or missing mortar in your chimney while performing the maintenance tasks on your roof. Any size of structural damage can result in bricks starting to fall out, damaging your roof, let alone leading to the collapse of your chimney. If you find any mortar cracks, you can either get a trowel out and fix them yourself or hire a contractor.

Problems with your home’s foundation can also result in a sloping or leaning chimney. Call a contractor immediately to fix your chimney if you see any movement, and then look around the rest of your house for foundation issues.