Roof Maintenance To Keep Your Delaware Valley Home Looking Its Best

Most homeowners take their roofs for granted and figure they’re durable and last for a generation or two without much attention. The fact is a roof’s integrity can be compromised – especially in the northern states – by harsh weather.

Most house roofs will last for many years if well-maintained and any issues spotted and addressed early enough. Attention to Delaware Valley roof maintenance may not be the reason why a home buyer purchases your house but lack of maintenance can surely lead to people bypassing making an offer or not wanting to see it at all. It just undermines the overall appearance of your property.

So how do you ensure your roof is protected from the weather and other invaders? To keep your roof maintained, there are some things that need to be done regularly:

1. Inspect your roof and attic twice a year – in the spring and fall – this will uncover exterior and interior damage after and before the winter season and provide an opportunity to get things fixed before they lead to more fundamental problems.
2. Check for debris and leaves that can build up on your roof. Places to check closely are around chimneys or other structures that stick up from the roof and flat parts of your roof that may be over porches, etc. Also check gutters as clogged gutters can damage roofs if the water buildup does not flow off of the roof. All debris will need to be removed carefully.
3. Check for any cracks or missing shingles or tiles. If shingles or tiles are damaged, you need to replace them immediately. One way to check for damage under the shingles or tiles is to inspect the roof of the attic. If there is dampness, or visible cracks, this indicates you have a problem with more than just the surface of the roof.
4. For proper roof maintenance, you should inspect the roof for any bulges or uneven shingles or tiles, or other signs that there has been seepage of moisture under the shingle or tiles. This may indicate severe damage that needs the expertise of a roof maintenance specialist.
5. Check your roof for any signs of mold or fungus that may be growing. You can obtain fungicides or other roof treatments to rid your roof of these nuisances. If left untreated the mold or fungus will continue to spread, causing more of a problem over time. This could cause permanent damage to your roof, or even enter the inside of your home if left unchecked.
6. Check the roof during the winter for snow build-up or ice damming. If there is a snow building up of over twelve inches, you will need to remove it. The weight could cause the roof to collapse. It can be swept off carefully. Be careful when walking on your roof you could damage it underneath and not realize until problems occur later. If ice damming is a problem (ice builds up around the bottom of the roof edges, blocking the flow of melting snow or water off of the roof into the gutters), you may need to increase the amount of insulation in the attic to prevent the cold from coming inside, encouraging ice damming. You can purchase heat strips to place above the gutter areas that will help the ice and snow to melt and flow out of the gutters instead of clogging them.