Mother Nature may still be treating us to some cold weather in southeastern Pennsylvania, but before we know it spring will be here. Along with the warmer weather and brighter sunshine, spring cleaning comes with the season, and it’s as important for the exterior of your home as it is for the inside.
The following tips will help you ensure your home’s roof is properly maintained:
Clean away leaves and debris.
Leaves, twigs, pine needles, and other debris can cause significant damage if left uncleared. Piled up on roofs they can form a layer that traps moisture—a prime threat to roof health. Trapped moisture or pooled water on your roof creates the risk not only of leaks, but of rot, mold, and other damage that can be very costly to repair.
In gutters, leaves and debris can form clogs, preventing the gutters and downspouts from doing their job of funneling water away from your home. This again increases the risk of leaks and rot, and can even compromise the foundation of your home if water collects there instead of being channeled a safe distance away.
Cleaning your roof and gutters of leaves, twigs, needles, and debris will require the use of a ladder and proper equipment. It is not advisable to use tools like metal rakes to do this job, as they may damage the materials of your roof.
It is also extremely important to practice extreme caution when accessing your roof, as a slip and fall from a ladder or the roof itself can cause serious injury. For this reason, roof cleaning is best left to professionals who are trained in the safest methods and have the proper equipment.
Trim tree branches
Do you have tree branches scratching at your windows or roof shingles? Over time this can cause wear and tear that can lead to real—and costly—damage. Take the time now while the trees are still bare to trim back any limbs that have grown to a point where they brush against your home’s siding, roof, or windows.
As with roof cleaning, trimming your tree branches can be a job best saved for experts who are trained and have professional equipment. If you elect to do this yourself, practice the highest degree of caution, being careful of the height as well as the use of equipment with sharp or rotating blades. Protect yourself with gloves, and wear goggles to keep any flyaway bits of wood away from your eyes.
Take an inventory of missing or damaged roofing materials.
Once debris and overgrown tree limbs are cleared up, take a good look at the condition of your roof—or for safety’s sake, hire a roofer with the expertise to spot issues that may not be so obvious to the average homeowner. Repairing small items now, like missing or cracked shingles, can prevent further damage and higher repair bills down the road.
Spring cleaning for your roof is essential, but it can also be dangerous to attempt on your own. Call your trusted professional roofer today to make sure your roof is ready to face the spring and summer in good repair!