11 Roof Maintenance Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

Your roof is an essential part of your home and repairs to it are often costly. To keep a roof over your head, as the saying goes, is not difficult to do if you practice regular residential roof maintenance. This requires that you keep track of your roof’s condition year-round, checking for any damage, and cleaning up after large storms. Here are some roof maintenance tips that will help you promote your roof’s life span and avoid frequent repairs to it.

Roof Maintenance Tips That Every Homeowner Should Know

Inspect your shingles every season.

It’s good practice to check the status of your roof’s shingles before each new season begins. Signs that it’s time to replace them are any exterior damage or loose shingles. Replacing individual shingles throughout the year as needed is much easier than waiting until the problem expands into something bigger.  

Remove Moss, Lichen, and Algae.

These fungi love to grow in the shady, moist parts of your roof. They can cause much damage if they are able to sit for too long. It’s best to check for moss, lichen, and algae growth on your roof each season and remove any growth right away. You can prevent fungi from growing by spreading any product that contains zinc and copper over your roof.

Keep tree branches trimmed and away from your roof.

Tree branches that get too close to your roof and gutters will leave debris behind and could potentially crack your roof. Over time if debris from trees collects on your roof, it can damage the shingles and clog your gutters. The best preventative for this is to keep your trees trimmed and away from your home’s roof.

Clean the gutters.

The best way to extend roof life is to clean your gutters. The very purpose of your gutters is to protect the roof from collecting debris and moisture. Gutters are basically a drain for your roof, so if you don’t ensure they are clean every season and after major storms, they will clog up and not be able to do their job.

Check your attic’s insulation.

If your attic isn’t properly insulated, the warmer temperatures from your home will throw off the roof’s temperature and cause freezing around your roof’s shingles that will then form an ice dam. The ice dam may cause freezing in the gutters as well.

Replace the caulk around flashings.

Flashings are what secure the chimney and vent pipes to your roof. Flashings are crucial because they prevent water from leaking into the house. Make sure that all caulk around these areas is airtight and replaced if needed. Before each new season is a good time to provide some fresh caulk to these areas.

Protect your roof from sun damage.

You can’t prevent the sun from shining down on your house’s roof. You can, though, make sure that the sun doesn’t cause too much damage and wear out your roof. Replace shingles if you notice they are damaged or worn down from the sun. 

Remove debris and leaves from your roof regularly.

This is a maintenance task easy to overlook. Most homeowners don’t have time to get up on their roof on a weekly basis and check for leaves. But, it’s important that while you clean your gutters regularly, you also make sure your roof is clear of debris. An especially important time to do this is after a large storm, or as each new season approaches.

Check the soffit and fascia for any damage.

The soffit and fascia are the parts of the house’s exterior where the roof meets the house’s siding. The gutter sits atop the fascia board. Check to make sure there is no damage to these parts. They are what help to secure the roof’s foundation. If they are weakened or damaged in any way, the roof will experience damage as well.

Get an annual roof inspection.

One of the best ways to preserve your roof’s healthy life span is to get your roof inspected by the experts. A roof inspection from a licensed roof contractor will inform you of any leaks or possibilities of major damage forming. This may seem like an annoying task, but having this done annually will prevent you from being surprised when your roof suddenly needs a very costly repair because it has been neglected.

Invest in a roof home warranty.

If you’re wondering how to maintain your roof without spending much money on repairs, consider a home warranty. A home warranty is a service contract that covers the cost of repairs and replacements when your home systems and appliances break down from normal wear and tear over time. 

A home warranty can help shoulder the cost of roof repairs as well as provide comprehensive coverage of other home systems and appliances when they break down, including your washer, dryer, and plumbing. Liberty Home Guard offers 3 major plans -- the Appliance Guard plan, the Systems Guard plan, and the Total Home Guard plan. Roof leak coverage can be added to any Liberty Home Guard home warranty plan. 

Liberty Home Guard 

A Liberty Home Guard home warranty provides the most comprehensive coverage in the industry. We provide roof leak coverage and a gutter cleaning warranty. These can be added to any of our three major plans. Liberty Home Guard will save you the money and time from having to find your own technician. Let us do all the work.

The U.S. News & World Report ranked us the #1 Home Warranty Provider in America and we have received an A rating from the Better Business Bureau. We’d like to think we received such high ratings because of our unparalleled customer service. Plus, we promise the highest quality workmanship and each repair comes with a 60-day guarantee. 

A roof is essential to your home’s foundation and it tends to be one of the most costly home repairs. A home warranty will help you when it’s time to repair this vital part of your home. Call us today at (866) 225- 7958 for your quote on roof coverage today.