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The simplest form of roof
maintenance is to take a good look at your
roof. Do
you have trees that branches touch or brush
against it?
Can you see any loose or damaged
shingles?
Are there any black spots or streaks on
your roof?
If you answered yes to any of these
questions, then it’s over time for you to do
a maintenance checkup.
In fact, every year you should inspect
your roof for any signs of damage.
Unfortunately, many homeowners only
examine their roofs after damage has occurred.
Did you know that the
average life of many asphalt roof systems is
only about 15 years and that slate, clay, tile,
and many metal roofing systems will last
longer, but only if they are properly
maintained?
The following is a Checklist that all
homeowners should follow once a year,
preferable in the spring.
Trees:
Trees are great for
shielding your home from the elements, but they
can also create a laundry list of roofing
problems.
To start with, tree branches that hang
over or touch your roof can scratch and gouge
at your roofing shingles.
In addition, fallen branches caused from
ice, or wind can puncture shingles or even go
completely through your roof, causing server
damage to the rooms below.
Then there is the problem of falling
leaves, which can clog gutter systems.
Having clogged gutters can cause
rainwater to overflow and seep into the attic
causing water damage to ceilings, or walls if
the water runs down behind the fascia.
To reduce damage caused by
trees to your roof, all you need to do is trim
back any branches from trees growing near your
home, take are over hanging or touching your
roof. If
you live in an area that has suffered through
droughts then consider contacting an Arborist
to inspect any large trees that are near your
home. Large
old trees can look healthy, but in fact can
have weakened tree roots caused by disease,
incest infestation, or drought.
These trees can then fall during heavy
rain, wind, or snow or ice.
For this reason, you need to ensure that
all trees that are near your home, are in good
health.
Black
or Discolored Streaks on the Roof:
Does your roof have black
or discolored streaks?
If it does, this is a strong of a mold,
algae, or fungus problem.
Mold, algae, and fungus grow rapidly on
roofs, which are shaded most of the time or
during times of high humidity.
Many homeowners feel that mold, algae,
and fungus are simply cosmetic problems.
However, the truth is that if algae,
mold and fungus are left unchecked, they will
eventually eat away at the roofing material,
causing deterioration and eventually leaks in
the roof.
One simple solution for
combating mold, algae, or fungus is to trim
back any nearby trees that shade the roof. This will also increase the amount of air circulation, which
also helps to retard the growth of mold, algae
and fungus. However, if you are looking for a permanent solution,
then consider installing zinc strips along the
roof ridge. Zinc strips work because when rain water come into contact with the strips, zinc oxide forms,
which acts as a protective coating that
prevents mold, algae and fungus from growing.
If you are planning to
install zinc strips on a roof which already has
streaks, you first need to clean off the mold,
algae and or fungus. When cleaning your roof,
DO
NOT USE household
bleach. Many homeowners believe that bleach is good for cleaning away
mold, algae, and fungus.
However, bleach is can corrosive and it
can even promote the growth of mold.
The
reason for this is that chlorine part of the
bleach does not penetrate porous materials such
as wood, roofing material, and drywall and
cannot kill the roots of the mold, algae, or
fungus.
The water content of the bleach does
penetrate porous materials and actually
promotes the growth of mold, fungus, and algae,
which is why you notice mold growth in only a
few days. One housing contractor we interviewed
told us, “Using bleach to kill mold is like
using hedge clippers to kill kudzu, it’s a
battle you won’t win.
And you’re just wasting your time and
money.”
To clean bleach from your roof or any
porous surface, we strongly recommend that you
use one of the many special cleaner made for
roofs, and wood surfaces.
Replace
Missing or Damaged Shingles:
It only takes a few
missing or damaged shingles to weaken a roof
structure making the interior of the home or
building vulnerable to water damage and rot.
When shingles are weak, or damaged they
can be easily blown off by gusts of wind.
If ignored a deteriorating roof system
will only worsen over time, which is why it is
important for you to take immediate steps to
replace any missing or damaged shingles.
Generally, fixing or
repairing an asphalt shingle roof is often
something that can be accomplished by most
do-it-yourselfers.
Your first step is to loosen the first
row of good shingles above the missing or
damaged shingles.
Next, you want to use a pry bar or putty
knife to pull away the adjacent shingles so the
good ones are separated from the damaged one.
Finally, carefully wiggle the damaged
shingle back and forth so that it can be
removed and replaced.
If you have a tiled roof,
you should leave all repairs to a professional
as replacing damaged tiles requires more
precision.
The key to maintaining your roof is to stay ahead
of the repairs.
Therefore, always make it a point to
inspect your roof annual.
You'll be glad you did.
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