Homeowner responsibilities can seem unending with the list of yard work, interior fix-it jobs, and exterior home maintenance that come along with it. However, you may be able to put off your lawn weeding a week or two but you don't want to let a roofing problem in the shingles or the gutters go unrepaired for several weeks, especially during the rainy season. Here are some tips for you to maintain the outside of your home and its roof with diligent homeowner care.
Check and Complete Roof Repairs
The best way to keep an eye on your roof's condition is to regularly look for missing or damaged shingles on your roof and to also inspect the interior of your home's attic space for any moisture leaks in the wood beams and plywood. It is best if you can catch the problem on your roof top before it seeps into your attic space. However, if you happen to discover it in your attic space, get it repaired before it leaks into your living space. If you notice any visual difference to your roof's top and shingles or the edges of your roof, contact a roofing professional to inspect for problems that need addressing. They will be able to repair the problem or arrange to replace your roof if this is called for and your roof is at the end of its lifespan. Your professional roofer can inspect your roof inside and out for signs of issues. If this is a season inspection, such as at the end of the stormy months or in the spring, they can complete a full visual inspection using a drone and getting on the roof to more closely inspect a potential roof issue.
Arrange for Proper Drainage
The gutters at the edges of your roof are not an edging to your roof's design, they actually collect and divert rainwater as it falls upon your roof. The gutters are fundamental in keeping rainwater from seeping into your home, but only when they are kept clean of debris. For this reason it is important that you keep your rain gutters cleaned out and sloping properly to allow full draining of your roof's runoff. If rainfall is allowed to back up in the gutters, it will back upward onto the roof and seep under the shingles, leaking through the roofing deck and eventually into your home's interior walls.
Hire a professional gutter cleaning service, or you can complete the work yourself with a ladder, garden space, or a gutter cleaning tool. Make sure all the connection points on your gutters are tight so they don't leak. Leaking gutters can pose a moisture threat to your home's basement if the soil becomes too saturated below your gutters. If you have questions about any details of your roof, contact a local roofing company to address your concerns.
When you develop a roof leak, you don't have time to ignore it. Issues with leaks can cause problems as simple as incoming water and as wide-ranging as mold accumulation inside your home, which is why you should never let an issue sit. However, if you aren't careful, you could develop problems with roofing that is simply open to the elements, allowing rain and snow to enter your home, melt, and contribute to problems like mold growth. On this blog, you can learn more about the kinds of roofing issues that you could be faced with, and what to do about them.