There are two times when you think about the lifespan of your roof. Those times are when you need a repair and when you have just had a repair or replacement. You certainly do not want to have to repair or replace your roof anytime soon. That means you are likely looking for ways to take care of your roof year-round. If that is the case, here are some methods to consider about how to care for your roof.
Roof Care Year-Round
The first place to start with taking care of your roof is simple. Your roof should be cleared off on a routine basis for maintenance. If you are under trees, you may want to set a monthly time for this if not seasonally. Take a visual survey of what kind of roof cleaning is necessary. Any debris needs to be removed from the roof to avoid damage. This includes removing leaves, branches, moss, mold, or anything else that may be covering the shingles. It’s a good idea to hire a professional to clean your roof because using ladders can be dangerous. Our professionals also have the knowledge and tools to get the job done safely and effectively.
Squeegee Squad uses a variety of cleaning techniques to remove unsightly substances like mold and moss to restore a fresh appearance to your roof. Depending on the location and type of shingle, we can either apply traditional pressure washing methods or new soft washing methods to clean your roof.
Contact Squeegee Squad for a free quote today!
The Clean Gutter Factor
The area that can cause a lot of damage to your roof is also the area that is often overlooked. The gutter system, when ignored, can cause various forms of damage to your roofing. For example, just allowing leaves and debris to sit in the guttering can lead to costly repairs. When leaves build up and sit in the gutters, many people think the only real issue is mold or mildew building up. Though that is a concern, there are much worse concerns to know about.
The gutters are usually not designed to hold extreme weight or hold weight for an exceeding period of time. The leaves themselves are not that heavy, however, wet leaves combined with other natural debris can start to weigh on the gutters bending and warping them. As time goes on, the bending and warping will lead to the anchors of your gutters pulling at your roof causing cracks.
These cracks allow water, ice, and snow to enter. This ultimately leads to water damage, wood rot, and the need to replace not only your gutters but also the roof itself. If it is allowed to spread or sit with unrepaired damage, the wood rot will spread into your attic as well as under your shingles. This means what started as a few leaves in a gutter has now turned into a leaking roof in need of costly roof repair and possible replacement.
Hire a professional to come clean your gutters to prevent build up of materials and damage to your roof. Squeegee Squad will clean your gutters by hand, and flush the downspouts to ensure that they are clear. Our gutter-friendly ladders rest the weight of the ladder on the roof, not on the gutters, preventing potential dents or other damage. Squeegee Squad will also bag and haul away the debris.
Contact Squeegee Squad for a free quote today!
Snow Removal and Ice Dams
If you are in an area that experiences severe cold weather conditions, including snow and ice, then extra care needs to take place seasonally. Where falling limbs and leaf debris can cause costly issues, leaks, and wood rot, snow and ice have a similar effect. When snow is left on a roof, the snow can form a thin layer of ice that lasts for an extended period of time.
Rain that turns to ice is also an issue, having much the same effect as snow being allowed to sit on the roof. Keep in mind, that as snow and water turn to ice they will expand and get under the shingles causing damage. In fact, you may not notice the damage until the warmer weather arrives and leaks begin from the melting ice. For these reasons, you should make sure you are maintaining your roof cleaning routine to include the winter months and the removal of snow.