Roofing maintenance is an important part of keeping a home or building protected. A few simple steps can help prevent expensive damage in future storms.
Inspecting the roof field, shingles for excessive wear, moss and lichen growth, and caulking issues is a good start. The flashing around chimneys, pipes, skylights, walls, equipment curbs, and penetrations should be inspected as well.
Gutters serve an important function—they collect rainwater from your roof and funnel it away from your house. But if they’re clogged, water can back up onto your roof and soffit, cause costly damage to your foundation, and even wreak havoc on your landscaping and siding.
A large part of preventing these issues is making sure your gutters are regularly cleaned. It may seem like a minor task, but it’s one that should be done at least twice each year—once in the fall and again in the spring.
Cleaning the gutters is a simple way to prevent a host of problems, from water damage to pest infestations. It’s also a great way to keep your home looking its best, as gutters that are clean and free of debris will not only look better but will protect your roofing materials and keep your home safe from rot and mold.
Gutter cleaning is usually a quick and easy job, but there are times when it makes sense to call in the pros for complex issues. If you’re unsure about working on a ladder or have limited time, it’s always safer to hire professional help than to risk your safety or miss the problem altogether.
If you decide to take on the job yourself, make sure you have the proper tools and follow all safety precautions when climbing a ladder or working on a roof. It’s also a good idea to have an assistant to move tools and provide support. And if the thought of climbing a ladder and tackling this chore sends you into a panic, don’t worry—there are many companies that specialize in roof maintenance and can complete the work for you. This is an affordable option to ensure the longevity of your home’s roofing system and to protect it from costly, unforeseen repairs.
Trim Tree Branches
Branches that overhang your roof should be trimmed regularly to prevent damage during a storm. Long branches can scrape or puncture shingles, and they can even pull at the roof, weakening it over time. Trimming tree branches also allows more sunlight to reach the roof, which helps stop moss and algae from growing on the shingles.
Proper trimming is important because it can prevent dead or decaying branches from falling and posing a safety hazard for you and your family. It can also promote the health of a tree by encouraging new growth, reducing competition between branches and the crown leader, and improving air circulation (to help prevent fungal diseases).
The best time to prune a tree depends on the type of tree and region of the country. However, in general, it is best to prune trees that are still young or in their early stages of development after the leaves have fallen and before the weather becomes warm and dry. It is important to avoid pruning a tree too heavily more than once per season, as this can put undue stress on it.
When you do prune a branch, always make the first cut on the underside of the branch about 18 inches from where it intersects with the trunk of the tree. The second cut should be made just beyond the first, on the side of the branch that is farther away from its supporting structure. This prevents stubs from forming where the branches were. Finally, the third cut should be made on the outside of the branch collar, a small lip of bark that the branch protrudes from. It is important to make this final cut just outside of the collar, since a callus will eventually form there, protecting the wood from water damage.
Another common pruning technique is called crown thinning, which removes certain branches to reduce the density of the crown and increase light penetration to the interior of the tree. This technique can be dangerous, and should only be conducted by a licensed professional. When you thin a tree, it is important to maintain the overall shape and size of the canopy, and not remove more than one-third of its total crown thickness.
Check Nails
Nails may be some of the smallest components on your roof, but they have a huge impact on how your roofing materials and materials hold up during powerful storms and extreme weather. If you have recently had a new roof installed or your roof has been repaired, then it is important to check that all the nails are in the right place and not sticking up out of the roof.
Roofing nails are different from staples or other fasteners because they have a larger head that prevents them from pulling through the roofing materials and a ridge along the shank to provide extra grip against wind uplift. They should be used to nail through the sheathing into the deck of the roof, and they should never be driven up over the shingle. If a nail starts popping up, it could cause a shingle to sag or work its way loose, which can allow water into the home.
When nailing a roof, it is critical to follow the manufacturer’s application guidelines. It is also important to use a quality product, such as hot-dipped galvanized steel or electro-galvanized steel nails. These nails have a corrosion-resistant zinc coating and are typically more durable than stainless steel nails.
The nailing pattern on a roof must be consistent and the nails must penetrate into the sheathing at a minimum of 3/4 inch. If the sheathing is a thinner material, such as 1/2-inch plywood or OSB, then the nails can penetrate more deeply.
One of the most common reasons that a nail will pop is that it was not driven in straight. This can be caused by inexperienced roofers or by attempting to hand drive nails rather than using a nail gun. Another problem is that the nail is placed too high on the shingle, which means it misses the shingle directly below. This can also make shingles less wind resistant.
If you find a nail that is poking up, then it must be repaired at once. You can try to hammer the nail down, but it is more effective to remove it, replace the shingle with a new shingle, and then tap it in at a different location.
Puncture a Sagging Bulge
If you see a bulge protruding from your roof, it is not a good thing. While a small amount of sagging may not be a huge concern or an emergency, it will cause more damage over time and lead to pricier roof repairs down the line. If you can, have a professional inspect and repair the problem before it gets worse.
Sagging roofs are usually caused by insufficient internal roof framing and undersized rafters/trusses combined with excessive loads of weight. Surface rain, snow, ice and even overhanging shingles add up to the stress on a weak roof. This can also happen due to poor workmanship during the original installation of your roof.
Depending on the condition of your structural beams, you can sometimes fix a sagging roof by jacking up loose rafters and adding struts or supports. If you don’t feel comfortable getting up on the roof, have an experienced roofing professional come out to perform a sagging roof inspection and make any necessary repairs.
It may seem counterintuitive, but puncturing a sagging bulk on your ceiling is a good idea to relieve pressure and prevent the water from spreading and damaging more of the ceiling. Using a screwdriver, puncture the lowest point of the sagging area and place a bucket or other container underneath to catch the water that will leak out. Several punctures may be needed depending on the size of the problem.
While some homeowners choose to tackle sagging roof repairs themselves, it’s best left to an experienced roofing professional to ensure you don’t end up hurting yourself or causing more damage to your home. They will be able to tell you the most cost-effective way to repair your sagging roof, as well as advise you on any additional roof maintenance that needs to be done.