10 Roof Maintenance Tips from Chicago Roofing Contractors

“The sky’s the limit if you have a roof over your head.” –  Sol Hurok

The roof is the most important part of your home. When everything is fine with it, you ignore it. But when something goes wrong, it could spell disaster. That’s why roof maintenance is vital for the quality of any homeowner’s life.

Even if you’ve just installed a new roof, it requires close attention. We’ve collected the most important roof maintenance tips provided by experienced Chicago roofing contractors. By following them, you can ensure excellent roof quality and peace of mind.

1. Take Care of Yourself First

Before you start with roof maintenance, you have to think about your own safety. Dozens of professional roof contractors fall from roofs every year. These people receive special training and have safety equipment. By climbing the roof without any of the above, you are risking your life much more.

If the roof maintenance project requires climbing the roof or walking over it, consider hiring professionals. It’s vital to consider your safety and the safety of other household members before climbing and working at heights.

2. Inspect the Roof Before Buying a Home

The roof is a delicate and costly part of any house. It’s important to inspect the roof closely before buying a house. Ideally, you should hire a professional inspector, who can evaluate the condition of the roof.

If you uncover problems, you can reduce the price tag while getting important information about the integrity of the building. It may be smart to avoid closing the deal on a house with a damaged roof. It may cause you plenty of hassle in the future.

3. Trim Trees

Trees can be a hazard to the roof’s integrity. What may appear as beautiful and luscious branches in the summer could turn into weapons in the winter. As soon as strong winds start blowing and heavy snow falls, weak branches may break off and fall to the roof. Or worse, the entire tree may not be able to withstand the weather conditions.

That’s why it’s vital to check for potentially problematic branches before the cold season arrives. Consider pruning trees while it’s still warm out. It’s better to hire a professional to do the job since tall tree care requires a special approach as well as safety gear and height-access equipment.

4. Keep the Roof Clean

You may not see it from the ground, but your roof collects large amounts of dirt and debris regularly. Small branches, leaves, and other elements clog the gutter system and cause the water to stay on the roof. Meanwhile, dirt and debris may rot eventually causing damage to the roof.

According to Chicago roofing contractors at Len Roofing, to make sure your roof stays in mint condition, you have to clean it at least twice a year. Ideally, you should do it in the spring to remove all the winter grime and in the fall, to prepare the roof for the cold days.

5. Inspect the Roof Closely

While you are cleaning the roof, make sure to inspect every inch of it. Cracks, holes, torn shingles and other problems can be fixed when spotted timely. The more damage you leave unattended, the sooner your roof will let you know about it.

When you hire professional roof cleaners or a tree pruning service, ask them to check out the roof. Remember, it’s vital to fix all the problems before the cold season comes. During the winter, all roof problems are harder to deal with and sometimes impossible to fix properly.

6. Check the Ventilation

For the roof to stay in good condition, your attic should be well ventilated. For example, bathroom venting should go outside the house, rather than inside the attic. If the ventilation system isn’t well-planned, you may be sabotaging your room from the inside.

High humidity in the attic could lead to roof damage. Heat and moisture could cause the sheathing to rot, thus jeopardizing the roof’s integrity.

7. Inspect the Attic

If you rarely visit the attic, make it a habit to check up on it at least once every 3 months. If there is a problem with your roof, it will likely reflect on the attic first. Ensure sufficient lighting and check the ceiling and walls for leaks. Also, try to spot any mold growth. If you see any, it means that the ventilation system isn’t working properly.

Even a small water stain on the wall could signal a formidable roof problem. It’s important to address it immediately.

8. Remove Snow

If you live in an area that’s prone to frequent snowfalls, you should pay special attention to the snow accumulating on the roof. Heavy and sticky snow may settle on the rooftop and stay there until the warm temperatures come around. This could mean trouble for your roof. Without proper cleaning, it may eventually collapse.

You can try to either clean the roof on your own, using snow rakes or hire professionals to do the job more thoroughly.

9. Pay Special Attention to Seals and Joints

The most vulnerable spots on your roof are seals and joints. They become the first cause of leaks. Look for bending, holes, loose sealant and other signs of such damage. Repairing seals and joints can be easy. Many homeowners can do it on their own. Meanwhile, the damage one simple broken seal can cause could be serious.

10.  Keep Your Ears Open

Sometimes it’s not enough to perform visual inspections. You have to be ready to spot warning sounds coming from your roof. Do you hear the wind blowing inside your attic or the sound of hail closer than it should be? Perhaps you’ve been noticing rodents running around during the night? Don’t ignore these warning signs or you could face serious roof damage.

Final Thoughts

By taking advantage of the above tips, you can forget about substantial roof problems. Try to hire professionals to deal with maintenance and repair if it requires climbing heights. Take care of your roof, and it will take care of you.

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