Tupac de la Cruz, Roofing Solutions
27 Aug 2023
Your roof plays an integral role in protecting your home or business, and there’s a lot it has to stand up to. Wind, water, pests, and other threats always wear away at your roof, so you need reliable roof maintenance to get the most out of it.
When it comes to roof care, there are some things you can do yourself, and professional roof maintenance services are best for others. In any case, it’s something you can’t ignore.
Preventative roofing maintenance is one of the most important tasks you should undertake to protect your home. It will have a significant impact not just on your roof but on the rest of your home as well.
First, committing to proper roof maintenance can help extend the lifespan of your roof. Well-maintained shingle roofing might last 20 to 30 years, while tile and metal roofing can last much longer when properly taken care of. However, putting off maintenance can cut that lifespan short.
Most issues with your roof, whether missing shingles, water damage, structural issues, or pest infestations, will only worsen over time. Ignoring them today can allow them to spread and become much more severe. Eventually, you will need a roof replacement years earlier than expected.
This also impacts the repairs you’ll need during the lifespan of your roof. Even a simple issue, like replacing missing shingles, can grow into a bigger job if you don’t address it quickly. Any damage can allow water to infiltrate your roof, which can cause rot, mold, and other problems.
The bottom line in terms of increasing roof lifespan and dealing with repairs early on is that you can spend less on your roof. Proactive maintenance helps you reduce your costs when dealing with one of the most expensive elements of your home.
In the worst-case scenario, improper roof maintenance can also affect the rest of your home. Water and pest infiltration can go on to reach your home’s structure, potentially affecting the walls below your roof. You could find yourself dealing with significant remodeling or mold remediation after water gets into your home’s structure.
The importance of maintaining your roof is clear. However, what exactly goes into handling commercial roof maintenance correctly? This roof maintenance checklist can give you a general overview of a proper roof maintenance plan.
These are some great roof maintenance tips, but they are far from comprehensive. To take the proper approach to roof maintenance, you’ll need to understand what you can do yourself and which tasks the professionals should handle.
Many roof maintenance aspects require professional roofers' experience and skill. However, there are some steps you can and should take at home to help maintain your roof. In general, these involve basic maintenance and keeping an eye out for any issues.
The first thing to remember here is your safety. Going up onto your roof and trying to inspect or carry out minor repairs yourself isn’t the best decision if you don’t have any experience doing so. Leaving it to the professionals ensures that everyone stays safe.
Cleaning your gutters is one of the most critical tasks when it comes to regular maintenance. Allowing leaves and other debris to build up can cause water to pool inside the gutters. This can lead to moisture issues for your roof, along with putting extra weight on your gutters.
If you aren’t comfortable getting up on a ladder and cleaning your gutters, you should seek professional gutter cleaning services instead. You can also consider gutter guards to keep debris out in the first place.
Depending on your home's height and the roof's pitch, you should be able to make a quick visual inspection from the ground. Look for missing shingles, curled shingles, debris, moss growth, and anything out of the ordinary. Whether you try to handle these issues yourself or call professionals, these issues require repairs or cleaning.
When you're done all you can, the next step would be for professional roofing contractors to take on the remaining elements of roof maintenance. Roofing companies have the expertise and knowledge to handle these elements safely and thoroughly, providing the best protection for your roof.
A routine roofing inspection by a professional can help safeguard your roof. Generally, roof inspections are recommended about once a year, although this can vary for some types of commercial flat roofing. Professional roofers know what to look for to identify issues that home or business owners might overlook if they try themselves.
Regarding shingle roof maintenance, they can assess any curling or granule loss indicating an aging roof that may need replacement. You can easily miss these not-so-obvious signs when looking at your roof from the ground.
Professionals are best suited for conducting leak detection, an essential part of roof maintenance. They can identify the signs of leaks and trace them to the root cause for repairs. It isn’t always clear where leaks actually come from as they run along various structures, but professionals have the knowledge and tools to find out.
Professional roofers can also assess your roof's structure, not just the shingles or tiles. The sheathing and framing of your roof can suffer from water damage or other structural issues, leading to a serious problem for your roof. Identifying any warping or sagging could mean saving a lot by having repairs sooner rather than later.
Roofing contractors will also know what issues to tackle when identifying any damage. Even if you can spot where a problem lies, you’ll need to reach out for repairs anyway. It’s better to have professionals carry out your roofing inspection so they can provide a quote on any repairs there and then.
For many home and business owners, it isn’t entirely clear when to reach out to professionals. Many are hesitant, putting off essential repairs until they get worse. Instead, you should reach out when you have any reason to be concerned about your roof.
Annual inspections are generally recommended. This is particularly true if you have a roof that’s 10 years or older. These are at higher risk of developing issues requiring urgent repairs to avoid further damage.
An inspection could be necessary after a major storm as well. If any tree branches or other large debris have fallen on your roof, you want an inspection as soon as possible. Even if there isn’t any visible damage, very intense storms are a good reason to see what a professional says about your roof.
You should contact the professionals if you notice any issues with your gutters or flashing. These are often signs of other structural problems or could indicate water damage and rot. They could hide more serious damage you can’t afford to overlook.
Missing or damaged shingles, visible sagging or warping, excess moss growth, water stains or other signs of leaks, and other roof issues are reasons to call the professionals immediately. Instead of letting your roof get worse, taking this proactive maintenance approach can help you save on repairs and replacements in the long run.
If you want to safeguard your commercial roof, you don’t have to look further than Roofing Solutions. We are a trusted Baton Rouge roofing company and Mobile AL roofing company, with 20+ years of roofing expertise.
We offer free estimates for apartment units and commercial buildings across the Gulf Coast. Our team provides the inspections, leak detection, and repairs you need to keep your roofing in the best shape possible.
Reach out today about our services to learn more about our licensed, bonded, and insured roof maintenance contractors. You can contact us for a free estimate on any roof repairs or replacements you might need.
