While residential roofs and their structure are made from durable and strong materials, they still need to be maintained regularly to make sure they work well and retain vital properties. Additionally, roof maintenance allows you to have adequate time to prepare for replacements since it can prolong the service life of the roof. Any structural damage on the roofing and building’s interior can also be avoided if there is a good preventative maintenance plan. To better preserve your residential roofs, here are some of the most important roof maintenance tips for homeowners that you can do and follow.
Inspect Roof Components
Before performing any cleaning and repairs, you must inspect certain areas of the roof first. A visual inspection of the whole roof system such as the roof surface, roof penetrations, and sealant must be done to assess the condition of their parts and components. For your roof surface, seams, and transitions, keep an eye out for holes and cracks that must be fixed. Some roof surface even has missing gravel or exposed felts that must also be repaired right away.
Pipes, drains, and other related parts that are visible through the roof surface are known as roof penetrations. These parts must be inspected since they are prone to leaks. Any accompanying components of roof penetrations like HVAC units, conduits, and others must also be examined for leaks or damages. The presence of these problems typically means that they must be professionally repaired.
The sealant of the residential roof system must also be inspected since they tend to crack, deteriorate, and leave openings over time. Sealant failures normally occur around roof penetrations and perimeter flashings. This part must be inspected and repaired regularly to avoid further roof damages.
Remove Loose Debris
Loose debris like dirt, gravel, leaves, and twigs tend to accumulate on roof surfaces. Without any regular cleaning and inspection, these elements can slowly damage and add weight to the roof surface and other related components. These things can also serve as a catch basin for water, which adds a significant level of moisture to the roof surface. The presence of moisture on roof surfaces and components will not only damage them in the long run and but also causes mould and algae to grow and proliferate. As a preventative measure, you must regularly remove all the loose debris on your roof surface.
Clear Clogged Drains
Clogged drains can cause huge problems to your home since moisture can penetrate both your roof surface and interior components. Therefore, you must unclog your field and auxiliary drains to eliminate ponding. Any light debris and build-up of elements must be removed thoroughly by flushing them out with water and pipe brush.
Repair Roof Components
Residential building owners tend to just wait for their roofing to be completely damaged. Fixing a significantly damaged residential roof will not only cost you more repair expenses, but it can also affect your home. So, part of the roof preventative maintenance for roofs is the repair of roof components and surfaces even if their damages are still minimal. Repairing small damages and defects right away can significantly save you more than waiting for your entire roof to fall apart. Following these roof maintenance tips for your residential roofs allows you to preserve the quality of your roof surface and components and manage expenses more effectively.
