It can be expensive to get your roof repair repaired or replaced. By spending a few hours of your time to closely inspect your roof, you should be able to save some money by preventing an expensive roof repair. You don’t need to inspect the roof every single day. You can do this once in every six months. Inspecting your roof can help you easily identify any maintenance opportunities that can prevent costly repairs. It’s also a good idea to review your homeowner’s insurance to determine if serious roof damage can be covered by the policy.

What to Look for During Roof Maintenance

It is important that you check your roofing during spring and fall. The best time to do this is when you are cleaning the gutters.

-Check the roof for any damaged, missing or curling shingles and other signs of wear and tear. Replacing the shingles is easy and should not cost a lot of money. You can do it yourself or you can hire someone else to do it for you.
-Check the roof for any presence of algae or fungus. If the roof has started to grow some algae or moss, install lead or zinc control strips.
-Check the metal areas and look for rust. If there’s rust present, use a wire brush to remove the rust. Prime and paint the metal afterward.
-Carefully inspect the flashing and make sure that it is solid. If not, take the old caulking off and scrub the surface clean before you start sealing again.
-Seal any areas that have cracked caulking or mortar, especially those areas around the chimneys and joints. If they have started to deteriorate, then do the necessary steps to repair them.

During your inspection, if you have noticed any signs of leaking and if there are dark spots on the ceiling or if mold is appearing in the attic, then you better take immediate action. A leaking roof can become worse and it is better to spend a few dollars for the maintenance today than spend thousands of dollars to get the roof repaired or replaced in the near future.

Other Roof Maintenance Tips

Here are some important roof maintenance tips when it comes to inspecting your roofing:

-Blow off or sweep any debris on your roof. Leaves, sticks and other debris could damage the shingles and will cause the growth of algae, which will eventually clog the gutters.
-Cut any tree branches that are left hanging at the roof in order to prevent further damages and to keep raccoons and squirrels from getting into your roof.
-Accumulation of thick snow can collapse your roof. When this happens, pull the snow carefully from your roof with the use of a snow rake. You can purchase the rake at any of the local hardware or home improvement stores.

It’s unfortunate that many homeowners tend to ignore roofing contractors maintenance. But remember that even small problems in your roof can lead to costly damages if left ignored.