With spring already in full swing, homeowners might want to inspect their roofs just so that they are well aware of what the last winter has done. The roof is one of the most important structural protectors of your home. Therefore, it is vital to keep it in good shape. With consistent, seasonal maintenance, your roof will last longer and perform better for many years to come.
There are many ways an individual can regularly check and maintain their roof. If there are some issues to be found, one must act on them as soon as possible. That is why reading this text will help you immensely. In it, you will find all the spring roof maintenance tips for homeowners you need to guarantee your roof is safe and sound. Without further ado, let’s begin!
#1 Spring roof maintenance tip—Clean the gutters
We will start with the most obvious one. During wintertime, various debris seems to end up clogging up your home’s gutters. What kind of debris are we talking about? Well, there are variously-shaped twigs, chunks of ice, leaves, etc. Needless to say, if that issue is left unattended—you’re going to have a bad time. The thing is: if your gutters clog up, the water flow becomes restricted. In other words: all the water your roof will have to deal with during springtime rains will have nowhere else to go but stay put, creating leaks.
That, of course, is not something you will want to endure, right? That’s why you should make sure your gutters are clean and ready for the upcoming spring rains! Also, there’s something else about spring we would like to mention. Spring is the time of the year everyone loves because all the shades of black, grey, and white we’ve seen during winter become a thing of the past. The color green enters the stage! However, many of these so-called spring gifts (for instance: blossoming flowers) will choose to find a resting spot on your home’s roof. See if any trees next to your home are stuffing your gutters with debris and act upon it.
#2 Get up there
While you are working on getting those gutters clean, there is another thing you will want to take care of. It is not just the gutters that get all the debris mentioned above; a lot of it falls directly on your roof with no intention to leave. That’s why you will want to clear out your roof from any leaves, pine needles, or whatever you find up there, to prevent the growth of mildew, moss (one of the major signs you need a roof repair), mold, and other not-so-good stuff for your roof. If you do not do this, there is a good chance you will have a problem with your roof’s shingles in the near future. Also, be very gentle when removing these items from your roof. Use a leaf blower or a soft broom.
#3 Trim the nearby trees
As we’ve already said, nearby trees can do some damage to your roof (including the gutters). Check to see if any of the leaves and branches of the neighboring trees endanger your roof. If any of them come into contact with your roof’s shingles. There is a fair chance that they will eventually cause just enough damage to welcome the moisture into your house. So, how do you prevent this? Here is an answer that works: you trim the trees so that they could no longer represent a threat, and that’s it!
#4 Check the attic
The next “task” on our list of spring roof maintenance tips concerns checking your attack for signs of roof damage. You will do this by simply getting up there on a sunny day and inspecting if there are beams of light that enter the room via tiny holes. These holes might result from poorly placed shingles or even signs of some critter action (we will talk about the latter thoroughly in the next paragraph). Anyway, there is a good chance you will want to immediately call professional roofers to handle the issue. Also, worried about all the antique furniture you have got stored up there? You will want to pack your stuff while keeping in mind that some pieces need special care. Once you’ve done that, they will be ready for storage, and you’ll have all the space in the world to conduct a thorough roof repair.
#5 Clear out any animal nests
Now, of course, most animals that will settle on your roof are pretty cute and everything. However, they’re able to create some find mess up there. For instance, various birds that find your roof appealing will use its insulation to create nests for their young ones. And that’s not something you want to happen! That is why you should clear out any animal nests before little ones enter the stage (because you will have a hard time evicting the nests together with little baby animals). Oh, and here is another reason why you would want to clear out the nests before babies appear: the parents will become a lot more hostile once that happens, and they will not take kindly to your eviction notice.
#6 Schedule a professional roof inspection
Last but not least, on our list of 6 spring roof maintenance tips, we have got your safest bet to ensure that nothing is wrong with your roof’s condition. That’s right! We are talking about you scheduling a professional roof inspection. If you go into a DIY inspection, there is a chance you will not notice many issues a professional roofer will surely see. Roofs are not the most approachable area in most homes, and checking them regularly is not something you would call a common practice among homeowners. That is why you should hire professional roofers to take a good look at it. There isn’t a better way to detect if your roof’s in some kind of trouble.