Does your home look like it needs a touch-up? Start with the roof and don’t wait for the hurricane season to do summer roof maintenance! Spring storms can also be harsh, so start on time!
Heavy repairs are always best left to your chosen Okaloosa County roofing contractor to keep the roof in the best condition, but there is some minor roof work you can do yourself. Here are roof maintenance tips for summer ASAP!
Inspection and Maintenance
If you ask any Okaloosa County roofing contractor what’s the first thing for homeowners to do with their roof – they will all agree – inspection!
Start with a Roof Inspection
Inspecting a roof is the first step because it gives you a picture of how much work is needed to keep your roof in the best condition. Once you find the signs of roof deterioration, you’ll determine whether you need to call roofing experts, or you can complete minor maintenance by yourself.
Look for:
- loose or damaged shingles
- cracks on the roof
- Minor roof leaks
- piles of dirt and debris
- moss, algae, or lichen growth
Clear Debris and Clean Gutters
Cleaning the roof from debris, loose branches, and leaves isn’t only to make your home look good. Piled-up debris can trap moisture and damage the structural integrity of your roof if left untreated for a long time.
The same applies to clogged gutters. They can cause water to accumulate, which leads to leaks and minor or heavy water damage to your roof or walls, and the belongings inside your home.
You can manually scrape the dirt off your roof, or use a pressure washer. Whatever you choose, be careful and wear protective equipment.
Protection Against UV Rays
What is the number one enemy of your skin as your body shield and your roof, as your home shield in the summer? Sun rays!
Apply a UV-protective coating
Just like you are applying a SPF cream to your skin, you should apply a UV-protective coating to your roof, to prevent UV rays from penetrating shingles and causing severe damage.
Roofs without protective coating are prone to heavy heat absorption and shingles cracking and blistering.
Once the roof is clean, use a roller or airless sprayer to apply a reflective coating to mitigate UV rays. An additional benefit of a coating like this is that it reflects sunlight and keeps your home cooler. Aside from increasing energy efficiency, protective coating keeps your roof operative for longer.
Provide Shade and Ventilation
If it is an option, plant a tree or install an awning around your home to provide natural shade. Not only will it keep your home cooler and spending time outdoors more comfortable, but it will reduce rooftop temperatures and the amount of UV damage to your roof.
But don’t forget to vent the attic regularly. If your attic isn’t ventilated well, the temperatures can rise so high and transfer to the underside of the roof, which can melt the shingles or weaken them so they are prone to more damage from the outside.
Maintenance of Roof Components
The next step is to go through various roof parts to see if everything is working properly. Refer to the following roofing maintenance tips related to flashings and other parts.
Check and Seal Flashings
Flashings around vents, skylights, and chimneys are susceptible to damage, which can go unseen for a while. Deteriorated flashing compromises the integrity of your entire roof and leads to leak-related problems, which are costly to repair.
Use roofing cement or silicone sealant for the gaps and cracks. It will keep the water away and your roof intact! Silicone sealant is easier to apply, but full coating performs better.
Inspect and Maintain Attic Insulation
Is your attic insulated? Without insulation, hot air from your home rises to the roof where it meets the heat from sunlight, doubling the damage it can do to the shingles. Insulation keeps cool air in your home and maintains consistent temperatures, which reduces the strain on the roof. It also makes your home more comfortable.
Add fiberglass or different types of insulation to your attic, or check the existing one for compression. Replace the damaged parts, but if you are dealing with spray foam insulation, maybe it is better to call a professional as it is more tricky to handle.
Storm Preparedness
Our summer season roofing tips couldn’t be complete without a storm roof preparation checklist!
Trim Overhanging Branches
The common roof damage in mid-range storms is from loose tree branches. Whenever the wind is strong, deteriorated branches are at risk of cracking onto your roof and damaging shingles, flashing, or clogging the gutter.
Not only will regular tree maintenance prevent these things from happening, but it will also ensure staying under the tree shade is comfortable and safe. Don’t forget to talk with your neighbor about doing the same, if his tree is near your home roof.
Secure Loose Roofing Materials
The last on our list of summer roofing tips is more of a year-round good tip! Whenever you notice loose roofing material, flashing, and shingles included, make sure to secure it. Strong winds, hail, and heavy rainfall or snow can cause them to detach and break surrounding parts.
Generally, after every storm, always check the roof for loose parts, as they become a massive safety hazard in the next storm.
If you don’t prepare well for the storm, and loose parts detach and break shingles, the damage will be worse, and it will cost you more money to repair.
Conclusion
There you have it – a list of the most useful roofing tips for the summer to keep the roof protected and performing well! First, start with the inspection and clean the roof from debris, before you move on to the protection coats and minor repairs.
Performing any roof tasks can be risky if the shingles are damaged or you have no idea what you are doing! You may step on a broken shingle, fall and hurt yourself. If you don’t feel confident to do any roof repair or inspection, contact a professional roofing company to help you out!
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