Roof Maintenance Tips to Protect Your Home

1. Keep Excess Water Off

One of your roof's primary jobs is to keep water out of your house, but your roof needs your help to get rid of the water that falls on it. Make sure to keep your roof's gutters and downspouts in tip-top shape so that it can drain properly, and trim your trees so that they do not hang over the roof, dripping water and shedding leaves into the gutters.

2. Conquer Moss

Keeping your trees trimmed away from the roof will make the roof less friendly to moss by minimizing moss-welcoming shady areas, but moss may still grow. Use Wet & Forget to safely and gently remove any moss on your roof, and re-treat at the first sign of new growth to prevent moss from coming back.

3. Check Your Insulation

Good attic insulation helps keep your house warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and it also helps protect your roof. A good layer of insulation on the attic floor with no gap for air to get between the house and the insulation is a must. This prevents big temperature exchanges between the house and attic, which will cause damaging water condensation on the underside of the roof

4. Do a Yearly inspection

Check your roof at least once a year, preferably in the spring, for any signs of damaged or lifted shingles, moss growth, or other problems. If you don't feel comfortable checking the roof yourself, you can hire a roofing professional to do the inspection.

5. Maintain Good Ventilation

Like insulation, good attic ventilation will also protect your roof from damage caused by water condensation. Without good ventilation, water vapor can cause the roof sheathing and rafters to rot and can even damage the shingles. Make sure your attic has good, unobstructed vents with screens to keep birds out. Ventilation fans are available for larger attics.

Home Repairs to Tackle

1. Build a small home repair reference library. The crucial first step in learning to tackle home repairs confidently is to read as much as possible. Both Black & Decker and Creative Homeowner produce series of paperbacks aimed at the basics in each area of home repair: electrical work, plumbing, tiling, carpentry, and more. Reading these books before beginning work will help you know what to expect and how to execute each job skilfully.
2. Ensure that you have the necessary tools for each job. Accumulating a solid toolbox is another essential step in making sure you can handle each home repair job as it arises. When purchasing tools, do not skimp on quality if possible. High-quality, durable tools can go a long way in compensating for novice technique.

• At its most basic, your toolbox should contain both flat and Phillips head screwdrivers, a hammer, pliers, an adjustable wrench, a putty knife, a utility knife, a straightedge and a spirit level.
• Power tools that are extremely helpful include an electric drill, a handheld circular saw, and an orbital sander.
• Get the safety devices appropriate to the tools at the time you buy the tool. Goggles, face mask, ear protection and gloves are 'must have's for loud, rough or dusty jobs.
• More specialized tools can be bought as the need arises. Drywall and plastering jobs will call for a mud box and a drywall knife, for instance, while a pipe wrench is essential for many plumbing repairs.

ROOF-REPAIR SAFETY TIPS

Working on a roof can be dangerous. Keep these safety precautions in mind before tackling a roof repair:

• Roof repairs should be done on a sunny day when the roof is completely dry. A wet roof is slippery and very dangerous.
• Adequate safety measures must be taken for any roof repairs. Always use safety ropes.
• On steep roofs, use a ladder framework to provide secure anchoring.
• Rubber-soled shoes provide the best traction when working on a roof.
• The location of power lines should be kept in mind when working on a roof.­

How to deal with piled-up snow?

• Check on your channels.  It’s slippery on your roof right now, so trying to get up there and sweep off snow or warm up the ice is a bad idea.
• Remove as much ice and snow as you can from window wells.
• Remove any outdoor flower or window boxes. The snow piled in these can melt and cause moisture interruption.
• Help your neighbours by removing any leaves and debris from pipes.  This simple action will help prevent flooding on your street.
• Move any snow that has piled up against your home.

Early Signs of a Roof Leak

• A yearly roof check-up is great, but problems can occur at any time. Early signs of trouble include:
• Dark areas on ceilings.
• Peeling paint on the underside of roof overhangs.
• Damp spots alongside fireplaces.
• Water stains on pipes venting the water heater or furnace.

Reasons You Need a New Roof

Needing a new roof can be tough, but there are times when a simple repair won’t do the trick.  Here are five reasons a home may need a new roof:

1. Sagging sections in your roof.  When one part of your roof dips below the rest of the roof, it indicated there may be rot, water damage, or some other structural issue which requires a replacement.

2. Dry rot.  When dry rot is affecting your roof, any timber affected by the dry rot has to be removed and replaced.

3. Leaky roof.  Sometimes a leak can be repaired simply, but there are times the leaks indicating that there are larger problems with your roof.

4. Excessive damage.  Major damage from a fallen limb or a fallen tree can be done to your roof which may mean it needs to be completely redone.

All in all, your roof is an important part of the overall health of your home.  Be sure to care for it and get it replaced when needed.

How to do a Roof inspection

1. Review your warranty.  Ensure your roof is still under warranty, and check to see how old your roof itself is.  The older the roof, the more vulnerable it is to damage from weather.
2. Go indoors and up into your attic space.  Ensure that any ventilation is open and un-blocked.  Feel the ceiling of your attic – especially in areas where something like a funnel is bulging from your roof.  If the interior of your attic is damp, you should get a professional to take a look to discover and fix the source of the leak.
3. If you believe your roof is in need of repair or maintenance – or you are unsure that your visual inspection was enough,  call in a professional roofer to take a look at the issue and get it fixed.  It’s best to go with a reputable roofing company with a valid CCB number and good customer reviews.  With something like a roof, it’s best to choose who to repair or replace your roof by experience and qualifications – not by price alone.  Some of the cheapest roofers may be using substandard materials, or create a worse situation than the one you already have.