Roofing Maintenance: Typical Tasks & Duties

Every homeowner needs to know basic roofing maintenance tasks. You don't want to spend time thinking about leaks and damage, but every step you take to prevent these things from happening is a step in the right direction. Try to write down a few dates on your calendar at the end of each season to remind you to step outside and get some idea of how things are going at the top of your home. Neglecting to take care of a roof can be costly.

Visual Inspection

A visual inspection isn't as easy as it sounds. Because the roofing of a home is out of reach, you can't just stay on the ground and just eyeball it. If you have a tough time seeing what is up there, grab a pair of binoculars or a ladder to get a closer look. But what are you looking for? Check to see if there is any noticeable damage to any part of the roof. Are there shingles or tiles that are damaged? Do you see any problems with the items attached to the roof like a satellite dish or even the chimney? Anything that doesn't look right could be a potential problem.

Cleaning Out Debris

During certain seasons wind, rain, and snow can deposit all types of debris onto the roofing of your home. Branches could be just laying on top of the roof or there could be piled up leaves inside the gutters. Either way, more problems can take place if these things are not remedied. Use a tool to clean out the gutters or get hard to reach items off the roof. If this doesn't work a water hose or pressure washer can push the items away. Whatever comes out or off the roof, be sure to throw it away to prevent it from making your yard look unkempt.

Check for Pests and Animals

Birds love to find a spot to make a nest where the roof hangs over the home. Check these areas to see if a nest is starting, or there are remnants of a nest from last season. Nests tend to create damage that you may not see right away. They may also bring in other pests and critters that can become more of an issue for your home and roof.

As you are performing the visual inspection, you also want to look for things like termites or bees that are looking to incorporate themselves into your home. In both of these situations it may be necessary to call in professional exterminators to remove these creatures from the areas around the roofing. After your inspection and cleaning, if there was anything that worried you, call roofing professionals to come to the house and take a look. You can set up an appointment, let them know what you saw and what things you are concerned with. After their inspection, which will be more much more thorough than you were able to achieve, they can let you know what needs to be done to make repairs or other maintenance tasks that need to be handled.