Whether your roof is two years old or twenty years old, you should inspect your roof every spring, and if you live in cold climates, do second inspection check in the fall. The best preventative maintenance you can do to extend the useful life of your roof is to perform semi-annual inspections and identify problems when they arise.
Your home’s roof takes more abuse from the weather and elements than any other component of your home. Preventative maintenance saves money and gives you a longer roof service life. This guide will show you how to keep your roof in the best possible working condition.
A Word on Roof Maintenance and Safety
Binoculars are the safest way to check your roof. In most cases, you can see everything you need to right from the ground. If you can, use a window cleaning brush to reach eaves, joinery and wall cladding.
If you do have to use a ladder to inspect and clean parts of your roof, make sure the ladder is taller than the roofline by at least two feet. That way, if the ladder slides left or right, it will still remain on the roof line.
Also, if you drive a long stake or piece of rebar into the ground behind the ladder, this will prevent it from sliding backwards while you are on it. Never lean over the side of a ladder to reach other parts of the roof.
Get down and move the ladder.
A few additional roof maintenance safety precautions include:
- If you decide to go onto your roof, and your roof has more than 15 degrees of pitch, use a roof ladder. It’s nearly impossible to stop yourself before you reach the edge if you slip and fall on a steeply pitched roof.
- If you can’t reach sections with a roof ladder (hipped roof or dormer windows are examples) you need to be able to affix safety ropes.
- Never climb onto a damp or wet roof! Roofs that are wet, even just a little bit, can be very slippery—especially if you have some mildew or mold on it.
- Wear soft shoes with a good grip, and always walk along nail lines.
-Roofing Articles Staff
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