Proven Residential Roofing Maintenance Tips in Denver [2018 Guide]

We have an important question for you… When it comes to living comfortably and healthily, do you think about the roof over your head? Sad to say, most people don’t. Maybe you forgot how much you needed your roof after it was installed.

The next time you think about it is the time it requires replacement. But what about the years in between? In this guide, we’re going to talk about some residential roofing maintenance tips. If you’d like it to serve you longer, keep reading.

Why Invest in Residential Roofing Maintenance?

1. Weather Challenges

If you live in Denver Colorado, you’d agree with the fact that weather presents a challenge to everyone. Take, for example, this weather forecast by the Denver Post which announced the possibility of thunder and rain and temperatures that may rise to the upper 80s.

Sunny days affect your roof due to exposure to UV rays. Come winter time, ice dams may form. Strong winds also shake up roof shingles. As you can see, addressing existing problems through simple residential roofing maintenance tips keeps them from growing. This is especially true when there’s harsh weather.

Related: DENVER WIND STORM! What You Need To Know…

2. Save More Money

bag of money and house on balance scale
Maintenance helps you save money because you avoid preventable costly roof repairs and replacements.

As a homeowner and probably a parent, you spend money home repairs, education, food, and more. Did you know that doing roofing maintenance is the way to save money?

A lack of upkeep more likely results in leaks, roof collapse, and even damage to your interior. That’s a lot of money wasted. Roofing maintenance helps you avoid a premature roof replacement - if you know what we mean.

3. Preserves Your Warranty

Most roofing manufacturers require homeowners to have their roofs maintained by the installer. Routine inspections should be done to address curling, buckling, moisture, and more. This is to preserve your warranty coverage.

Should you, a homeowner, have your own residential checklist? The answer is yes. Once you know what roofing problems to look for, you can report them to a roofing contractor.

9 Residential Roofing Maintenance Tips to Prolong Its Lifespan

As one of the elite roofing companies, we recommend these actionable residential roofing maintenance tips. Our goal is to help you get the most out of your roof. That way, you enjoy its benefits for many years.

1. Clean out the gutters.

man collecting leaves from dirty gutters
Clean gutters are essential to the proper flow of water away from the roof.

There are many things that clog your gutters. For example, leaves that fall during The Autumn season, twigs, bird droppings, dead insects, and nests. Prepare your gutters for the winter by cleaning them. Clean gutters mean that water won’t overflow and soak the roofing material.

Gutter cleaning for maintenance is best done by a licensed roofing contractor. However, some people prefer to clean the gutters by themselves. Just make sure that you clean from a sturdy ladder with a stand-off stabilizer.

2. Add roofing insulation.

Because heat loss occurs through the roof, it makes sense to install insulation. Think of a roofing insulation as a barrier. It prevents heat and cold from escaping and entering your home. As a result, you rely less on heating and cooling systems to achieve the temperature you desire.

But how does adding roof insulation help as one of our residential roofing maintenance tips? Well, without insulation, snow melts on your roof during winter. Ice dams form. And as you know, the formation of ice dams is one of the causes of leaks.

3. Cut back overhanging branches.

It doesn’t matter where you live; trees in your yard that that are too close to your house are hazardous to the roof. There are three ways that overhanging branches damage your roof shingles:

  • Branches that dangle scrape the roofing surface. This strips away the protective asphalt.
  • Small animals access your roof from the branches. Birds, for example.
  • Leaves and twigs fall and end up in the gutters. As mentioned earlier, they accumulate and prevent the proper flow of water.

Dealing with overhanging branches might seem like a daunting task. However, it’s more frustrating to find out that your roof leaked because of neglect. Hire a professional arborist for this task.

4. Remove moss.

scattered moss on grey roof tiles
Moss harbors moisture that causes any roofing material to rot eventually.

Regardless of your roof material, whether it’s a shingle, slate, or clay roof, moss damages it over time. Some people believe that moss only affects asphalt shingles. But the truth is, it affects any roofing material. Moss breaks down roofing components because it harbors moisture. Don’t wait for your roof to rot before you act.

How do you get rid of moss on roof tiles? Here’s a simple method: Prepare a 50:50 mixture of chlorine bleach and water. Use a sprayer to distribute the solution throughout the mossy surface. Leave it on for 20 minutes then scrub off with a soft brush.

5. Keep an eye out for leaks.

Unfortunately, roof leaks are a consequence of underlying roof problems. A lot of factors create roof leaks such as rusted flashing and workmanship errors. It can also be that strong winds lifted off your shingles.

Sometimes, you don’t spot water from the ceiling. Instead, you find less obvious signs such as discoloration on your walls and ceiling. They appear to be brown rings. Also, try to go outside your house and look for water spots beneath the roof lines.

6. Report storm damage immediately.

While your roofing material has been designed to withstand the weather, some areas of your roof are susceptible to damage. Weak roof points include flashing, eaves, soffit, and valleys. If a storm affects your area, call a roofing contractor to inspect it.

Here at Roper Roofing, we assist homeowners in filing storm damage claims. In the event of a hail storm, we conduct an inspection. We work closely with your insurance provider, specifically the insurance adjuster, to ensure that all signs of damage are detected and documented.

7. Avoid DIY roofing tasks.

man working on top of roof shingles
Whichever way you look at it, DIY roofing jobs are dangerous.

DIY roofing seems to get the attention of a lot of homeowners. The reason? They want to save up money. Some feel the excitement of being able to handle a roofing job on their own. Below are 3 reasons to hire a roofing professional as one of the best residential roofing maintenance tips...

  • Safety - This is a huge one. Eliminate the possibility of injuring yourself while on the roof regardless of the weather.
  • Voiding Warranties - The fine print usually states that you’re covered against defects in the material. However, warranties are voided if you perform the work on your roof and not the roofer that installed it.
  • Cost-Effectiveness - Choosing a professional roofing contractor is cheap in the long run because the roofing work is done correctly the first time. Imagine spending money on new roofing materials because of a botched job.

8. Ensure attic ventilation.

Attic ventilation is one of the basic residential roofing maintenance tips you shouldn’t miss. Having a balanced attic ventilation system ensures that moisture doesn’t build up and your roof doesn’t heat up further.

Make sure that you install roof ventilation to promote adequate airflow. Your roofing contractor will determine the number of vents that you need. An attic that’s well-ventilated preserves your roofing shingles. It also helps keep the temperature cooler indoors.

9. Replace faulty flashing material.

Flashing is a common weak spot that’s prone to leakage. Sometimes one thinks that this is ironic because flashing is supposed to keep water out. Metal flashings corrode and rust over time. Cracks start to form.

As the flashing material deteriorates, so does its ability to waterproof the roof. Every few years, make sure that your flashing is inspected by a roofing contractor.

Contact Roper Roofing Today

Did you learn from today’s post on residential roofing maintenance tips? If you're looking for a reliable, experienced, and well-equipped Denver CO roofing contractor, you can count on Roper Roofing to perform exceptional roof maintenance services for your property.

Talk to us today at 720-307-7174. We’ll help you come up with a roof maintenance plan.

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