We often forget about our roof. It sits there, protecting us from rain, wind, snow, debris, sun, and pests, all while we stay inside feeling warm and comfortable. But even though we can’t see all that our roof is doing on a daily basis, it’s very important that we do not forget about our roof. It needs care.
What is Roof Maintenance?
Roof maintenance is the process of regularly inspecting the roof, cleaning off any debris or buildup, and making early repairs to any signs of damaged roofing materials. The exact process depends a bit on your roof, but typically involves:
- Cleaning out gutters.
- Blowing off any debris.
- Replacing any damaged or missing shingles.
- Sealing any cracks.
- Monitoring for early signs of rot.
The exact process is going to depend on the roof material and its age, but most of it can be completed in a few hours by an experienced roofing company.
Why Does Roof Maintenance Matter?
Most people have at least a moderate awareness of why roof maintenance might be important. It’s most important benefit, of course, is to extend the life of your roof. But not every homeowner understands how effectively roof maintenance helps, and why.
For example, if your roof starts to break, chip, or otherwise become damaged, that damage can multiply and enhance itself quickly. One small crack can allow water to enter, and if water enters, then other parts of your roof can start to rot or break. One small crack is all it takes to suddenly have a significant roof issue within a short time.
Most of the time when we go onto your roof, especially if it has been completed recently, we are not going to find anything. But all it takes is one little bit of damage, and it is our role to try to stop that damage before it becomes too significant. In addition, cleaning debris off the roof and out of the gutters decreases the risk of future damage. And existing issues, such as missing shingles can also lead to other problems like leaks that get into your attic, or even flooring – both of which would require very expensive repairs and could ruin your valuables.
Even something as simple as regular gutter cleaning can be the difference between a long lasting roof and one that needs to be completely replaced in a few years. Clogged gutters can damage the roof and the fascia if water starts to build.
Do You Need to Hire a Professional Roof Cleaner?
So, we have established that roof maintenance is important. But is it something you can do yourself?
The answer is, absolutely! For those comfortable enough to go on their roof and clean gutters and blow away debris, you can perform many of the most common maintenance tasks yourself using a blower and specialized gutter cleaning tools. You can also theoretically repairs cracks and damaged/missing shingles, but those are probably better left to roofing companies.
But it’s also worth mentioning that roof maintenance doesn’t have to be expensive. Here at Christian Construction in Staten Island, for example, we have extremely low rates for roof maintenance and gutter cleaning, and the specialized tools and people to help handle it.
How Often Should You Have Professional Roof Maintenance?
It is a good idea to elect for professional roof maintenance annually. Schedule a time once per year to have a roofing company that offers maintenance come to your property and provide it with a thorough cleaning and inspection. Even if you do decide to maintain it partially yourself, once per year with a professional is still a very smart idea.
There are also some rare situations where you may want to consider twice per year if your budget allows it. For example, if you have trees over your property and we have a particularly windy few months, and you happen to hear debris falling onto your roof, consider at least looking at your roof yourself or calling a roof maintenance company.
The more debris there is on your roof, the more likely your roof will experience damage. It is always a good idea to make sure large pieces of debris, at least, are removed and the property is inspected for damage.
Next Steps – Scheduling Help
Remember, most people forget about their roof for years until there is a problem. But you need roof maintenance and repair in order to extend the life of your roof, and you don’t want to forget, since the cost of forgetting your roof can be substantial.
Schedule help now for roof maintenance, gutter cleaning, and roof repair, and see about scheduling annual service so that you do not have to forget your roof in the future. That is the best way to make sure that you do not forget about this important annual need. Contact Christian Construction today to get started.
