Do you own your own home? You might be used to doing the normal household chores on a regular basis, but how often do you maintain your roof? Over time your roof will be subjected to severe weather, damaging sun, and normal wear and tear.
Cleaning the roof is one of the most important steps you can take to increase the longevity of your roofing materials. Keep reading to learn more.
1. Clean the Gutters
The gutters on your home are essential in collecting rainwater and precipitation and bringing it away from your home. Unfortunately, gutters can also collect leaves, branches, sticks, and other debris as well.
If your gutter gets clogged, the rainwater will not be able to drain and can back up onto your roof. If left too long, the water can actually seep up under your roofing and create a leak inside your home. This can lead to permanent damage to your roof or infrastructure, and you will need a roofing contractor to help with the repair.
You should plan on cleaning your gutters and ridding them of debris at least twice a year. Another option is you can add a gutter guard that will help keep the debris from collecting. Be sure to inspect it every now and then to make sure it’s still in good shape.
2. Remove Moss or Lichen
If you see moss or lichen growing in the shaded part of your roof, you should clean it off as soon as possible. Algae, moss, or lichen have a tendency to grow during the summertime when there is a lot of moisture in the air due to frequent storms. If not cleaned off quickly, it may lead to decay of the roofing material.
To keep it from growing in the future, you can put a preventative treatment on your roof. It will inhibit the moss and lichen from growing again in the future and eliminate the need to replace those areas of your roof.
3. Trim Back Trees
If you have trees that are close to your house, you should trim back any branches that hang over your roof. Although the tree is providing shade to your home and property, the branches might be scratching and damaging your shingles.
During storms, the leaves from the tree will fall off and gather on your roof, or the branches could break. If you have gutters, the debris then gathers and creates a vicious cycle. It is better to trim your tree branches often to avoid the problem.
Learn More Cleaning the Roof of Your Home Today
These are a few of the ways that cleaning the roof of your home will provide longevity of your roofing materials. Start by regularly cleaning out your gutters from debris to let the water flow away from your home.
If you notice moss, algae, or lichen growing in the shaded parts of the roof, clean it immediately and treat your roof with a preventative solution. Finally, always trim tree branches away from your home. This will prevent them from causing damage to your roofing materials and help keep your gutters clean.
If you would like more information about how to maintain your home, be sure to visit our website daily!
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