To prolong the life of your roof and avoid water damage from water leaking through, your home’s roof should be inspected twice a year. Once in the spring before the spring storms hit, and once again in the fall before the leaves clog up your gutters and the freeze and thaw cycle of winter creates additional water damage. So as you enjoy the changing fall colors, make sure you do the following roof maintenance tasks to avoid water damage in Springfield Missouri.
Trim Your Trees
Dead tree limbs can fall on your roof and cause damage, especially during rain or snow storms. Trees that are leaning towards your house could also fall on your roof or allow squirrels or other critters to invade your attic. Twigs, leaves, and other debris can cause rotting, gutter blockage, termite invasion, and roof damage. If you want to avoid these problems, call an arborist to remove any overhanging branches and make sure that trees aren’t dangerously leaning towards your home.
Check And Clean Your Gutters
One of the best ways to prepare your home for colder weather is to clean your gutters and make sure that they’re securely anchored. This allows rainwater and thawed snow to safely flow off your roofline and avoid leaks and water damage to your home. Hire a professional to remove leaves and other debris from your gutters regularly throughout the year. You can also considering hiring someone to install gutter guards to ward off any debris that would normally invade your gutters.
Inspect Your Roof For Damage
Rather than risk climbing on your roof, it’s best to hire a roofing professional that you trust to check your roof flashings. These flashings cover gaps near vents and chimneys, and can be dislocated during a storm. Replace any faulty flashing pieces. If you have an asphalt roof, you should also replace any shingles that have bare spots, are warping, or are curling at the edges.
If you own a wooden shake roof, the roofing company should look for signs of warping. If at least 25 percent of your wood shingles are damaged, it’s time to replace the roofing material.
If you have a metal roof, have a professional roof inspection to look for signs of pitting, corrosion or gapping seams as these can lead to leaks or underlay damage. Be sure to address any roof adjustments or repairs right away. Don’t wait until winter has passed to tackle these issues.
If your home has water damage from leaks in your roof, we’re here to help. Call the professionals at PuroClean Certified Restoration to do the water restoration job right.