Spring is almost here and soon it will be time to do some spring cleaning. Not just indoors but outside too. Spring has now become the season to refresh the outer parts, giving your home a facelift and some much needed TLC. One major part of your home that you should keep an eye on any time of the year is your roof.
Here are some tips to get you started on how to prepare your roof for the upcoming spring weather:
Inspect Roof & Gutters
First and foremost, you need to have your roof checked. You can either do this yourself if you have knowledge of what to look for or hire a company such as Westchase Roofing to do it for you. This is very important because snow and other natural elements can damage the roofing system. Roofing may survive through a very brutal winter but it needs to be cleaned prepared for impending warm weather.
Gutters are a very important part of the roofing system and the home. Gutters are known to capture melting snow and freezing rain during the winter and if not cleaned, they can leak or rust and be rendered pretty much useless. Debris can also get trapped in them and end up causing them to not drain right. If they are, you’ll need to unclog them now to avoid them overflowing when those April showers start to fall. So clean those gutters! If you don’t have gutters, definitely invest in them now. You’ll thank yourself later.
[Credit]
Proper Ventilation
When warmer weather hits, you need to make sure that the ventilation is proper so warm air does not collect in the attic. This kind of air can cause wreak havoc by causing severe damage. Be sure to inspect the attic, and if you find something questionable, contact someone who has more knowledge in how to handle that situation.
Repair Shingles
If you see a damaged shingle, it needs to be fixed right away. What could cause this during the winter months is a load of snow. Our roofing systems can only take so much of it. If not repaired, leaks from the melting snow could get worse and those leaks could lead to mold. Just make sure that you keep yourself safe during this process. If you don’t trust yourself to stay safe or do the job thoroughly, you can always hire someone to do the job for you.
Check For Mold
Mold on a roof is ugly. There is no way I can sugar coat that fact. Haha. Although ugly and a nuisance, it can be removed. If you have mold, consider picking up some under the sink cleaners. Avoid pressure washing your roof as it can result in damage you don’t want. This same rule applies for moss and dirt as well. Molds, mildews, excess dirt, and debris can eat away and compromise your roofing materials, weakening the whole system. I can’t even tell you how many roofs I’ve seen in my lifetime that were not taken care of properly. They can get pretty ugly folks. So don’t neglect them.
Without a functioning, well-maintained roof, your home suffers. Your roof is the first line of defense against the elements. If your roof fails, everything inside is at risk. You must take care of your roof with cleaning and maintenance as if your life depended on it…because it does.