Roof Maintenance Tips [And Why it’s Important]

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From lawn care to oil changes, regular maintenance is the key to ensuring the things you care about last longer and work as they should. It prevents reactive maintenance, which means having to fix problems that could have been prevented, saving you time and money down the road. Routine maintenance also creates peace of mind, saving you from the stress of an unexpected repair bill, which can sometimes come at a time when you may be financially unprepared. 

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The same is true for your roof, and since a new roof is such a valuable and important investment, it’s easy to understand why roof maintenance is crucial. Your home’s roof plays a vital role in protecting the contents of your home, loved ones who live there, and defends the structure itself against the elements. In this article, we discuss what roof maintenance is, why it’s important, and some roof maintenance tips to get you started.

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Table of Contents

- What is Roof Maintenance?

- Roof Maintenance Tips

- The Importance of Roof Maintenance

   - Preventing Future Problems

   - Maximizing your Roof’s Lifespan

   - Peace of Mind

- Annual Roof Inspections

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What is Roof Maintenance?

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Many homeowners believe that once the roof is installed, the job is done. Unfortunately, that’s not completely true, as yearly roof inspections and regular maintenance is vital to keeping your roof in tip-top shape for as long as possible. Annual inspections and routine maintenance is key to protecting your valuable roof investment.

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So, what is roof maintenance? Roof maintenance is simply periodically checking all of the areas of your roof that may be susceptible to having a problem, and taking steps to ensure they are in their best condition. Our biggest roof maintenance tip to you is to perform maintenance either annually, biannually, or quarterly, depending on the type of roof that you have, and especially after a strong storm or hurricane.

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Roof maintenance can be performed by the homeowner, or by calling on a professional roofing contractor. We highly recommend working with a vetted roofing company, as they will know exactly what signs to look for and what needs to be done. Below are a few of the common ways a roofing contractor will work to maintain your roof: 

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• Checking pipe boots for cracks and damage
• Removing debris, like sticks and leaves, from the roof, valleys and gutters
• Inspecting the roof for signs of damage caused by animals 
• Ensuring that the ventilation is working properly 
• Having your chimney inspected by a chimney sweep that’s certified through the CSIA, also known as the Chimney Sweep Institute of America 
• Inspecting loose or missing caulking and flashings 

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And that’s just to name a few! There are a ton of things that a contractor will look for through their eyes of experience. While those listed above are a few of the most important roof maintenance tips, a professional roofing contractor will know how to spot smaller potential problems before they turn into big ones. 

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Roof Maintenance Tips

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While we highly recommend regular roof maintenance and inspections through a roofing contractor, we understand that may not always be in the budget. With that being said, we decided to come up with roof maintenance tips every homeowner should utilize in order to maximize their roof’s lifespan. Outside of hiring a professional, below are some roof maintenance tips to help keep your home safe in between inspections from a roofing contractor:

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• Trim the branches and landscaping around your roof on a regular basis
• Regularly clean out your gutters 
• Treat your roof for moss and algae
• Check your attic and ceiling for damage after a storm strikes
• Keep an eye out for missing or cracked shingles

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As you can see, there are many roof maintenance tips homeowners can utilize to protect their home and increase their roof’s lifespan. But at the end of the day, getting a roof inspection is one of the most valuable roof maintenance tips out there. Even with regularly performing the above roof maintenance tips, it’s easy to miss signs of decay or damage that a professional will be able to spot right away.

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The Importance of Roof Maintenance

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The aforementioned roof maintenance tips are essential to protecting your investment, but so is understanding their importance. Investing in roof maintenance, utilizing these roof maintenance tips, and having your roof regularly inspected can greatly impact the long-term health of your roof, prevent future problems, and provide peace of mind for every homeowner. This is why we strongly recommend yearly roof inspections by a professional, and using our roof maintenance tips for regular upkeep.

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Preventing Future Problems

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Why should you follow our roof maintenance tips? Well, one of the most important reasons is that regular maintenance can prevent future problems. A small issue that’s left untreated or is unnoticed can be a major and costly problem later, whether it’s in a few years or just six months down the road. 

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For example, if you have a pipe boot that’s cracked, it can be a simple and inexpensive fix if it’s caught right away. If it’s not caught through regular roof maintenance or during an inspection by a professional contractor, however, then that small issue can turn into ceiling damage that costs up to $500 to correct. A knowledgeable contractor can easily spot potential problems during an inspection, saving you money in the long term. 

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Maximizing your Roof’s Lifespan

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Annual roof maintenance can maximize your roof’s lifespan, protecting your investment and your home as a whole. And after spending a decent amount of money having a new roof installed, it would be a shame to not take advantage of these roof maintenance tips to get the most years out of your roof. 

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For example, when you get a new asphalt roof installed, depending on the material you choose, you can expect to get at least 25 years out of it. Regular maintenance can almost guarantee you’ll get 25 years out of that new roof, or more. If you want longevity when it comes to your roof, maintenance is critical.

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Peace of Mind

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When it comes to any sort of investment, customers want peace of mind. They don’t want to be up at night worrying how much longer their investment will last, and the same is true when it comes to your roof. Peace of mind is so important, and that goes hand in hand with regular roof maintenance. 

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When you have a roof inspection, a contractor will either let you know that your roof is in excellent shape, or catch any issues that could potentially become a problem. Even if they do determine that your roof needs repairs, then at least you can rest assured the problem was spotted before turning into something major. 

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Taking the necessary steps as a homeowner to protect your roof, like trimming branches, cleaning the gutters, etc., creates peace of mind knowing you did everything on your end to protect your investment. Hiring a contractor for an inspection takes that one step further, providing peace of mind knowing that everything is as it should be, or that all issues are being attended to. Plus, when the next storm hits, you can trust that your roof has been set up for success, and that you and your home are protected.

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Annual Roof Inspections

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As you can see, these roof maintenance tips are indispensable. Doing what you can as a homeowner, from cleaning gutters to keeping an eye out for missing shingles, and having your roof regularly inspected by a professional is the best way to protect your roof. It’s a great way to prevent future problems, maximize your roof’s lifespan, and to create peace of mind. 

The professionals at Elite Exteriors are knowledgeable, vetted, and experienced, and would be more than happy to inspect your roof. Elite Exteriors is the Southeast’s premier residential and commercial resource for unparalleled service, superior craftsmanship and incomparable quality; and it’s all backed by an unprecedented lifetime labor and materials warranty! Give us a call today at 470-350-3024 to see how we can help with your roofing needs, or fill out our online form for more information.

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