How Do I Protect My Roof From Damage?
The roof doesn’t only protect your house from damage, but it also provides structural integrity. But what can you do to protect the roof from damage? Firstly, have your roof inspected by roofing contractors yearly and perform these things to ensure that your roof is protected no matter what the weather is like.
The Material Matters
The right roofing material will make all of the difference. Different materials have different durability standards and strength limits and each material also has specific qualities which can withstand weather and heat damage and protect your roof as well as your house. This is why it’s important to research the right material for your house roof while keeping the climate of the place where you live in mind.
Metal and asphalt are two very common and durable options that will last longer and protect your roof from getting cracked or damaged.
Maintain It Regularly
A roof isn’t one of those things which you can set and forget about. There is a lot of maintenance that comes with roofs. You need to check for leaks and damage around the sides and the middle.
You want to make sure that there isn’t excess weight on the roof, which could lead to collapsing and you also want to make sure that there isn’t any water build-up or accumulation on the top of the roof. This can ultimately lead to fungus and mildew formation and it can really damage your roof if you don’t take care of it right away.
Inspect For Damage
This tip is also very important and will save you from unnecessary trouble in the future. No one wants to constantly check the roof for damage of any kind, but you should make it a habit, especially after a lot of rain, snow, or a wind storm, when the risk of roof damage is high. It doesn’t take a lot to go up your roof and check for signs of damage, like cracks or collapses on its surface.
If there isn’t any damage, then you’re good to go, but if there is, then you might want to take care of it first and make it a high-priority task.
Protection Against Harsh Weathers
A great way to ensure that your roof is well-protected against damage from extreme weather is by sealing and insulating it. You want to make sure that your roof is insulated because heat can be a major culprit, which can lead to damage and cracks in the roof.
If you’re worried about water accumulation on the roof, then have ridge caps installed on the sides of the roof, to provide a pathway for water to fall down and not put its weight on the roof. Lastly, you also want to consider sealing your roof, because it’s going to make it waterproof and protect it from fungus and mold.
Don’t Wait Too Long
This tip is very important to remember and this is, sadly, the place where people can get lazy. Let’s say there is damage on the roof, like slight cracks forming, divots, and fungus formation. Well, you don’t want to wait long for roof repair. You want to get someone over to your house right away and have them check your roof.
This might seem far-fetched, but it’s going to save your roof from excessive damage and you won’t have to pay a huge price for it, literally. You don’t want to wait until the last minute to repair your roof, otherwise, it can lead to even worse outcomes, since the roof is already super weak.
Check For Leaks
A sign by which you can tell that your roof is not doing so good is leaking. If you see that your ceiling is leaking or there is an accumulation of water on the side of the ceiling and water is slightly dripping down, then you need to act quickly, because something is definitely wrong with your roof.
Once there is a crack in the roof, the water or fungus can easily seep through the concrete and make its way toward the ceiling. It can ruin the paint on the ceiling and over time, water may start to drip down. This is extremely alarming and you don’t have a lot of time before your roof loses its strength so it’s better to take a look at your roof before it’s too late.
Have A Look At The Chimney
You might be thinking, what does a chimney have to do with roof damage? Well, there are a lot of things that can go wrong if your chimney isn’t maintained and one of those things is your roof getting weak and damaged. The chimney needs to be cleaned and maintained at all times, otherwise, it will put a lot of weight on the roof.
Also, there might be smoke and moisture accumulation in the chimney, which could exert a lot of pressure on your roof and it can ultimately weaken it to the point of no return.
The Attic And Its Ventilation
If you’re worried about fungus and mildew causing damage to your roof, then you might want to keep your attic or upper part of the house ventilated. Ventilation is super important, especially for the room which is closest to your roof, most of the time it’s the attic or the cellar. If you don’t go into the attic often you might not notice that the ventilation is poor in the attic. Have it inspected for ventilation.
You also don’t want to overcrowd the space, as this can be a perfect hiding spot and breeding ground for fungus.
Keep A Lookout For Large Trees
Sometimes, there might be other external factors that could pose a threat to your roof. One of those things is big and heavy trees. During thunderstorms and heavy rains, trees might fall and you don’t want your roof to take the brunt of the fall.
This is why it’s important that you cut the trees surrounding your house so that even if they fall, they won’t break or damage your roof greatly. A slight trim every now and then is enough for the trees to be non-threatening. This small thing can save your entire roof from collapsing.
Clean The Snow On Your Roof
Another thing that can cause great damage to your roof is snow. Snow might feel very light and harmless, but once it has been deposited on your roof and it stays there for a long time, it can be extremely heavy and it can cause great damage to your roof.
If the place where you live gets a lot of snow during the year, then it’s best that you clean your roof after a heavy snowfall. This can be tedious at times, but you will do your house a huge favor and it will not collapse under the heavy weight.
Conclusion
There you have it! The roof can be damaged by a lot of things, the weather and wind being two of them. These tips will help to protect your roof from leaks and getting damaged. If you haven’t inspected your roof for more than a year, schedule a roof inspection from roofing companies soon. brus