The Ultimate When To Clean Your Roof Guide

As a wise homeowner, it’s important to consider whether you are providing the right maintenance for your roof, especially if you want it to last. Particularly, a home’s roof is the first line of defense and barrier against natural elements, such as heavy rain, high winds, sleet, and heavy snow. Neglecting your roof is a bad idea. Doing so can lead to expensive repairs and even cause water and mold issues that may damage your personal property inside your home. Conducting a comprehensive inspection each spring or once a year can help prevent costly roof repairs later on. In general, a well-maintained and clean roof will add years to its life and even increase the value to your home

When you clean your roof, you should keep in mind the following points.

Remove Debris from the Gutters. The most common task involved when roof cleaning is removing particles and debris from the gutters to enable rainwater to stream through the roofing system drain system as created and aid avoid water damage to the outside and inside of your residence. The most effective time to do a roof inspection is during spring or as the season’s change in your area.

It’s very important that after you remove debris from the gutters, you should test your gutters using a water hose. The idea is to use the hose on the roof to simulate rain. You should check and make sure that the water is flowing into the gutters and that the downspouts are clear and functioning properly. In general, there should be no signs that water is pooling on your roof.

Do Not Pressure Wash your Roof. Some inexperienced roofing companies provide pressure washing services for your roof to make it look brand new. However, pressure washing your roof can cause a lot of unwanted damage. Especially if your roof is made of asphalt or tile, as these materials can be easily pushed out of place. Likewise, pressure washing a roof from the edge of the roof can force unwanted water to pool under the tiles, causing them to lift.

As such, if you hire a company to clean your roof, make sure that the company uses biodegradable cleaning solutions with regular water pressure only.

Check for Leaks While Cleaning. A roof inspection should start with a check for leaks in the attic or upper levels of the home. Typically, leaks are most noticeable after heavy rains or when snow is melting. Additionally, you should walk through each room of the house and inspect both the walls and ceilings. Ceiling spots are a telltale sign that your roof needs some sort of repair.

Check for Cracks. The most common leakage sources on your roof include split in flashing around the chimney or worn-out, decayed, or missing shingles. Check your gutters for particles, including granules in the gutter. It might indicate aging tiles that should be replaced. Additionally, check for any missing, broken, or crinkled shingles. These should be replaced quickly to prevent structural damage to your roofing system deck as well as the interior of your home. If any type of tiles is blistered, rotted, or “dirty looking,” they need to be changed, as well

Roof work is dangerous. Frequently cleaning the roof requires the person to climb the roof. As such, roof maintenance and cleaning should only be done by a professional with the right safety equipment and someone with knowledge on how to avoid causing roof damage additionally. With that being said, the best solution for regular maintenance and cleaning of your roof is to partner with a professional roofing company that can provide scheduled inspections and regular roof maintenance programs to help protect your home.