Protecting the roof over your home will help to extend its life, helping you avoid having to replace it too soon. Yet, many property owners may not have a lot of insight into how to maintain their roofs or what goes into the process overall.
Regular roof maintenance in Omaha typically occurs in the fall, but you can do the work at any time of the year to protect it from the changing weather. Whenever there is no snow or ice on the ground, consider taking a look at the roof to ensure it is ready for the next round of weather.
Your Roof Maintenance Checklist
All Omaha property owners should invest in some routine roof maintenance. The area’s changing weather and sometimes intense freezes can cause damage to your roof over time. Here are the tasks you should do on a routine basis.
Keep the Gutters Clean
The gutters directly impact the lifespan of the roof. If material builds up within them, water cannot flow properly down them, and that allows for algae growth and leaks to be more likely. The more water that gets under the shingles of the roof, the more likely there will be damage to it. This also leads to damage to the fascia and, ultimately, the windows, siding, and foundation of your home.
Keep it Free from Algae and Moss
Take a look at the surface of the roof (you can stand at a distance from your home to do this from the ground). Do you see discoloration on the surface? Any green, yellowing, or dark discoloration may indicate the presence of mold and mildew and, in some cases, moss and algae. All of these organisms are damaging the life expectancy of your roof.
Keep branches trimmed and away from the roofline. You also want to remove falling leaves whenever they land on the roof. This type of organic matter breaks down and causes damage to the surrounding area.
If that discoloration is there, you will need to wash it away or hire a professional to do it. The use of the right type of product will remove all of this growth to protect the overall integrity of your roof shingles. Also, note that some products can be applied that will minimize the potential for future algae growth. Though this is an added step, it can be worthwhile for those in Omaha with a lot of trees around their home.
Look for Leaks and Address Them
Any leak is not okay on a roof as it will lead to a bigger problem. Spotting them can be hard to do, though, for the untrained eye. Here are some strategies to help you:
- Look for missing shingles. These are the biggest vulnerabilities for most structures.
- If a shingle is cracked or has a hole in it, that is also going to increase the risk of leads occurring. Remove and replace them.
- Go into your attic and keep the lights off. Look for any areas where you can spot daylight coming through the roof. Those areas need repair right away.
- Notice any moisture buildup in the attic, too. This is a sign that water is infiltrating, and that creates a strong risk of mold growth.
- Look at the flashing around the fireplace or any other structures on the roof. If it is missing, out of place, or rusted, that is going to create a leak risk. If it is loose, caulk it back into place to minimize this risk.
If you find a leak on your roof, have it professionally repaired. This will likely entail contacting a contractor to have the right replacement shingles obtained.
Make Sure the Roof Has Good Ventilation
In Omaha, where temperatures can climb and fall often, there is the risk of ice building up under any loose shingles. Other times, during the summer months, heat can build in the attic, causing a serious risk to the integrity of the shingles.
One way to tackle this is through the proper installation of ventilation. While it is critical to keep surfaces dry, you also need to allow air to move into and out of this area. Good ventilation during the summer months, for example, helps hot air escape, ensuring that the underside of the shingles is not exposed to very high temperatures that could damage it.
During the winter months, proper ventilation minimizes the risk of heated air escaping and driving your heating costs up. At the same time, it can minimize the risk of ice dams forming, especially with good leak protection in place.
Monitor for Ice Dams
While you should never climb on the roof when there is snow or ice present (we do not recommend going on the roof whenever there is risk), ice dams are concerning problems. They build when snow on the roof melts and trickles down into the space under the shingles. Then, the temperature drops, and the moisture turns to ice, creating damage as it expands.
As noted, good ventilation helps, but you also need to inspect your roof for signs of ice dam damage and have that repaired before moving forward into the next season. Look for:
- Singles that are loose or moving, especially at the valleys of the roof
- Mold growth or damage along the interior area of the roof
- A musky scent coming from the attic
Keep in mind that if your roof needs repairs or replacement, you should have a professional tackle that for you as soon as possible. Doing so will minimize the risk of future problems in the months to come. You don’t have to do all of this work on your own.
Our Roofing Team Can Help You
We provide comprehensive roof maintenance in Omaha. All roof inspections are free to you, and we are happy to climb up and have a look so you don’t have to worry about falling. Schedule a roof inspection every spring or fall with us for a fast and easy way to ensure your roof is in the best possible condition.
