How Roof Maintenance Can Save You from Costly Roof Repairs

When you purchase a brand-new car, wouldn't it be nice if you could just forget about it? If you didn't need to change its oil every 5,000 miles or rotate the tires, or do any of the other inconvenient maintenance it requires?

It would be nice, but it’s not possible. The same goes for your roof. A roof system is arguably the most vulnerable part of a building's exterior. Ultraviolet radiation, wind, rain, hail, snow, and sleet all affect a roof system's performance. A roof requires regular "tune ups" also. Even brand-new roofs need attention. A very common misconception for many homeowners is that a roof is something you can set and forget, which cannot be further from the truth. 

If you knew that regular roof maintenance could save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, would you do it?

It's a little-known fact, but you should be inspecting your roof regularly, blowing off debris from the roof, particularly the roof valleys, cleaning out the gutters, sealing roof flashings, and inspecting for problem areas. Doing this shouldn’t take very long, but it can literally be the difference between an hour of work and thousands of dollars in repairs. 

Nothing is worse for a roof than debris sitting in valleys, behind chimneys, or in gutters. These debris break down and prevent water from flowing properly off of the roof. When this happens, it’s only a matter of time before underlayment deteriorates and allows water to infiltrate the home. 

Moss is another common culprit needing attention. Moss needs to go because it traps water. Trapped and standing water is never a good thing for you roof system. If caught in the early stages, moss can easily be removed by brushing it off, but in the later stages a chemical may be required to kill the moss before it can be easily removed. 

Once a roof is leaking, to have a professional repair it, you're already a few hundred dollars at minimum, but many roof repairs cost into the thousands of dollars. Catching problem areas on the roof system prior to it becoming a problem can literally save you thousands of dollars and will inevitably increase the lifespan of the roof. For more information, a popular site for homeowners, Angi, has an excellent beginners guide for DIY Roof Maintenance posted at https://www.angi.com/articles/what-can-i-do-maintain-my-roof.htm.

Moral of the story - regularly maintain your roof, just like you regularly maintain your car. It’s just as important!

We recommend at least once a year, but more if you live in areas with heavy tree cover this may need to be done more frequently. And, don't hesitate to give American Eagle Roofing a call - we're here to help!