Shingle roofs look great and are extremely durable but they still require proper maintenance to function as well as possible. Without maintaining roof shingles you could drastically shorten the life of your roof and end up with leaks into your home which can cause a lot of damage and result in expensive repairs or an entire roof replacement. Here are a few tips to keep in mind that will help you maintain the shingles on your roof so your home stays safe and dry for decades:
Inspect Your Roof Often
One of the most important aspects of maintaining roof shingles is actually taking the time to do a roof inspection. Every few months you should take a look at your roof for any loose, cracked, broken, or warped shingles. Oftentimes these can be repaired with roof cement if you notice it early enough. If there has been a lot of wind or rain you may want to check your roof more often.
Keep Your Roof Clean
One of the leading causes of roof and shingle damage is due to debris, mold, and algae on your roof. During your inspections make sure you remove any leaves and other debris because they can hold moisture and damage your shingles. If you notice long black streaks on your shingles that could be algae which should be removed immediately.
Check Your Gutters For Granules
Cleaning out your gutters is extremely important to keep water from damaging your foundation or leaking into your basement. During your gutter cleaning, keep an eye out for granules that may have come off of your shingles. Over time some granules will wear off, but if you notice an unusually large amount of ceramic granules you may need to replace your shingles.
Schedule A Roof Inspection
For the best results, you may want to consult a specialist such as Mackie One. Established over 60 years ago, Mackie One consists of roofing, siding, and gutter experts that can inspect and provide roof maintenance to ensure your shingles are working as effectively as possible. Give us a call at (504) 821-1530 to schedule your roof inspect today.
I liked that you had mentioned that it can be important to inspect the roof often to check for any problematic shingles. My wife has been wanting to change the look of our home a bit and we were thinking that new roof shingles would look great and be nice. We’ll have to start looking for some that fit the look of our home, and once we get them, we’ll be making sure that we inspect them often to look for damaged or broken ones.
I really appreciate your advice to try and find any old caulking on your roof, that way no water can seep into your house and cause any damage. My sister lives in an area that has a lot of rainfall, and she doesn’t want any of it to leak into the house. I will be sure to suggest to her that she looks out for any old caulking that might be on her roof!