When you look at your house, the roof is probably not the first thing you notice; however, it is incredibly important to protect you from wind, weather, water, and falling debris. If something goes wrong with your roof, the damage can quickly expand to the rest of your structure, leading to expensive repair bills.
The best way to avoid roof repairs is to prioritize roofing maintenance. Here are a few roof maintenance tips you can follow to avoid expensive repair bills related to your roof.
Is Your Roof Leaking?
You should check for leaks in your roof regularly. First, look in your attic for signs of water stains or damage to the roof’s plywood decking. Next, you’ll want to check the chimney flashing for leaks. From inside the house, you can look at your ceiling for signs of stains from water.
Clean The Gutters and Check The Roof
Clean all leaves, dirt, and debris out of your gutters regularly. If leaves and debris remain in your gutters, they can stop water from draining away properly. The water will then back up and fill the gutter, leading to a variety of problems.
Make sure to trim away any branches that are causing debris to collect on your roof. Fallen debris on the roof will capture water and cause improper draining.
Cleaning roofs and gutters can be dangerous, so be careful. Falling off a ladder will hurt more than your pride. Better yet, stay off the ladder and call Pickard Roofing to do the roof maintenance for you.
Look for Loose Shingles or Nails that have Popped Up
Inspect your roof for loose or missing shingles. Loose shingles could be caused by extreme weather, improper installation, or they might just be getting old. Chances are, if you find one loose shingle, you will find more, so keep looking.
North Carolina summers, while beautiful, also create an intense amount of heat on the roof. This extreme summer heat can cause nails to pop and shingles to lift. We’ve also seen other roofers use nails that are too short, and the nails cannot fully anchor the shingle to the roof’s underlayment. Over time, short nails will pop out.
Trim the Trees
Trees are a significant hazard during storms. A severe storm can knock tree branches loose, allowing them to land on your roof. A big enough branch falling on your roof can easily put a hole in it, allowing water to infiltrate the interior of your structure. This can lead to a significant repair bill.
Even if there isn't a severe storm, too much shade from trees can cause mildew to grow on your roof. This can also damage the structure of your home while also being a health hazard. Trim your tree branches every year to prevent this issue.
Replace Your Roof
Finally, even if you take perfect care of your roof, eventually, it will need to be replaced. This is a great time to call Pickard Roofing. We can help you compare the cost of replacing the roof versus repairing it. We bring 90+ years of experience to the table and a promise to treat you right.
The Best Roofing Services
Even though you may feel tempted to do roof repairs on your own, a professional is often the best option. With a professional, you can protect your safety while also ensuring that your routine maintenance is completed properly on the first attempt. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you get the most out of your roof.
At Pickard Roofing, we think Design. Craft. Renew. We are experienced in all types of roofing systems- and provide the right roofing design and selective craftsmanship for renewing our customer’s assets. We invite sustainable building customers to give us a call for your free evaluation. For over 90 years Pickard Roofing Company has installed countless metal, tile, slate, TPO, EPDM, and all types of shingle roofing in the Triangle. Our services include residential, commercial, custom architectural metal fabrication, and historical renovation.
