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.

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.

How to Properly Clean Your Roof

1. Pressure Wash the Roof - Pressure washing is the most common technique for cleaning the roof, as it is effective and can combine with detergent to improve cleaning efficacy. It is important to note that you must be careful not to damage joints, penetrations and side and end laps when cleaning with a pressure washer.
2. Clean the Roof with a Heavy Bristle Broom - If you don't have a pressure washer accessible, you can use a heavy bristle broom and water hose to clean the roof.
3. Clean All Remains Off the Roof - After the roof is sufficiently cleaned, it must be thoroughly rinsed and all debris flushed down the drains or into the sewers.

How to Test the Roof for Adequate Coating Bond:

1. Apply 2" masking tape to an area of the roof that had previously been dirty, such as a ponded water section or a drain sump. Press the tape firmly into the roofing substrate.
2. Peel the tape back:
• If it is difficult to peel off and there is no dirt or degraded roofing material on the backside of the tape, proceed with coating.
• If it peels easily with dirt or degraded roofing material embedded on the bottom of the tape, you should clean again and retest.