If you own your own home, maintaining your roof may not be the most fun part of owning the property but it has to be done. The typical homeowner spends between 1 and 4% of their home’s value of yearly roof maintenance and routine repairs. This ends up being about $2,000 for a home whose value is estimated to be around $200,000. Some people invest in certain materials that require less maintenance, such as those that make for impact resistant roofs.
Home Roof Maintenance Tips:
- Check on the state of your roof often. When problems arise, catching them early can be the difference between needing a small roof repairs that do not cost a lot and and needing a roofing company come out and replace the entire thing. Even impact resistant roofs need to be checked on and inspected often to keep them in good shape. Every fall you should inspect your gutters and in the spring you need to check for any damage that was done during the winter by ice. If you live in a region with bad storms, you should check your roof for any damages done by hail, strong winds or tree branches. When you check your roof, do this without walking on it. If there are areas that have been weakened, you can do more damage and this can be very dangerous. You can inspect your roof without seriously injuring yourself.
- Take care of your gutters. Gutters and downspouts that are clogged with leaves, twigs and other debris cause more problems due to water damage than you can imagine. Keep them clean and clear and you will save yourself a lot of problems with your roof and the foundation of your home. Check for any gaps or cracks in the seams that may impact how they are able to get water away from your house.
- Watch out for damage done by animals. Squirrels, raccoons, possums and chipmunks are all very cute when you see them frolicking in your yard but they can do a lot of damage to your roof if they can find a way in. If you have any parts of your roof that have been compromised by rot, these creatures may have an easy way to get in and once they find a way in, it can be really hard to get them to leave. Keep an eye out for possible entry points for these animals and repair as needed. Even impact resistant roofs can be vulnerable to these pests.
- Watch out for insects. Furry animals are not the only creatures who want to get at your house. Carpenter ants and termites can do lots of damage that will cost a lot to repair. Roofers recommend homeowners look for sawdust, shredded wood and other signs of an infestation. Every spring, you should make it a point to look all around your home for evidence of termites. Even impact resistant roofs cannot protect your home from these insects.
- Watch your flashing. This is always an area that needs to be watched because it is a main leak risk area. Look at your flashing around chimneys, exhaust pipes and vents. If it has been punctured in any way or has dried out, you should look into replacing it. Talk to your roofing contractor when you find these problems.
- Prune the trees around your home. If you have trees that are close to the house and their limbs hang over the roof, you need to prune them so that they are no longer in a position to damage your roof in a storm. Even if the limb does not fall onto your roof, if it is resting on the shingles or the gutters it can cause a lot of damage.
- Have a professional check out your roof. Roofers recommend that homeowners have their roofs inspected by a professional roofing company every six months to one year. Developing a good relationship with the local roofing company before you have a major problem will help if you ever do.
Your roof can last a very long time if you take care of it. These simple tips will keep it healthy and happy for many years.