Roof Maintenance tips to keep your roof healthy

The roof of any building is one of its most important components. The roof provides a defence against rain, wind, snow, heat and all other weather elements. Every day the roof is exposed to these weather hazards and elements which means that over time damage and deterioration is likely to occur. However, the primary cause of roof problems is a lack of maintenance or a poorly maintained roof. On average, a newly installed roof should last between 30 to 50 years if properly maintained. This is a long time and should therefore present a good return on investment. It is true that for most of us that when we talk about maintaining our building, the roof may not be top priority. Here are some useful tips to easily maintain your roof and to keep it going for a very long time.
 
Regular visual inspection
It is essential that on a regular basis you inspect your roof. Take up good positions around the building and view the roof to make sure you do not see anything odd. Cracks to roof tiles, changes  in colour of roof tiles, a loose roof membrane. We also advise that you have inspections after adverse weather conditions for example a storm or strong winds. This should be always the first step to making sure that you roof is in good shape. If anything is odd, then get your local roofing expert to look into it and get it sorted immediately. It is better to manage any issues with the roof as soon as they happen as it is a great way of keeping the cost down. If there are cracks on the roof and  they are left too long they will affect other parts of the roof. If there are roof tiles that need to be replaced and they are left too long, other roof tiles may start going off as well.
 
Overhanging Branches
It is common to have trees around our building and with this comes tree branches that are hanging or growing towards our roof. If these branches are not trimmed regularly and kept away from the roof their growth can damage the roof. Always be on the look out for trees growing near your building. Where the branches are close to the roof, then hire a good tree surgeon to get them trimmed. This is a key aspect of the maintenance as falling leaves from the tree may collect on the roof, retain moisture and then start to rot the roof tiles which makes them much weaker. If this is not looked into for a long time then it can result to long term damage to the roofing structure.
 
Clean your roof and gutters
Your roof should be cleared of any debris or leaves as part of the maintenance tasks. Leaves that collect on the roof may start decaying and they collect moisture which could lead to roof leaks in the long term. It is therefore important to keep your roof clear at all times.
 
In addition, gutters that clog up can cause a lot of damage to your roof as a result of water accumulating on the gutters. The water that has accumulated can easily make its way underneath your roofing structure. It is important to keep your gutters clean and clear at all times. If repairs are needed then get them repaired as soon as you can. Gutters should serve their intended purpose of moving water from the roof and preventing any dangers to your roof in the process.
 
Inspect for Rust
For roofs constructed with metallic parts, they need to be checked to regularly for corrosion or rust on the metal parts. Where rust is observed, it is important to brush to remove the rust and paint the affected areas of the metal to keep them healthy for a much longer period.
 
In summary, always have a qualified local roofer inspect your roof at least once a year so that any issues can be resolved quickly. As having a good view of the roof may require the use of a ladder, we advise that you leave this tasks to the trained experts. Call our friendly team if you are unsure of anything.