7 Spring roof maintenance tips

1.      Clean gutters

While you may have cleaned your gutters right before winter hit, there still might be some leaf and dirt buildup. Your eavestroughs and downspouts need to be clean to do its job, which is getting water to safely run off your roof.

With spring showers around the corner, make sure to get those gutters cleaned before.

2.      Inspect shingles

Depending on the size and angles of your roof, as well as your eye sight, you may want to grab a ladder to get a closer look at your shingles.

Check to see if any shingles are curling, loose or damaged. If you do see any, make sure to replace them if you can.

Can you see nails or staples popping out? Grab a hammer and nail them down.

Do your shingles look worn out and old? How old is your roof? It might be time for a new roof.

3.      Flashing Damage

If you don’t know what flashing is, it’s what connects different parts of your roof, such as skylights, walls of dormers, windows, or where two slopes meet.

Check to see if the caulking around the flashing has cracked. If it is cracked, this could be an easy fix if you are handy, and you can just re-caulk the flashing.

Are there any rust spots visible on the flashing? If you do see rust, change the flashing asap to prevent water damage.

4.      Soffit and Fascia

In case you’re not sure, panels usually made of metal or wood that run along the underside of the roof between the house wall and the roofline. Fascia, on the other hand, are metal or wood boards that run along the roofline or behind the eavestrough.

These components of your roof are sometimes overlooked, as most people only look at their shingles, but they are very important to the health of your roof, so check to make sure they are okay.

You want to check for any soft spots, holes or other damage.

5.      Water or ice dam damage

Checking for water or ice dam damage can include looking for signs of a leak inside your home or even on the roof.

Melting snow or damage caused by ice dams can lead to water damage for your roof, ceilings, insulation and more.

If you do see a leak, get it looked at by a professional Winnipeg roofing company, such as Denali Exteriors, asap before it causes more damage like rotting the roof’s underlayment and ruining your insulation.

6.      Debris on your roof

Sometimes we can get debris buildup on our roof, especially in areas where slopes meet. If you have overhanging pine trees or other trees with heavier foliage, the wind might carry these things onto your roof where they sit and collect moisture.

Make sure to clean any debris off. Don’t wait for the wind or rain to do it for you.

7.      Check for mold or moss

If you happen to come across mold or moss on your roof, whatever you do, do not use a power washer. Same thing goes for getting rid of debris on your roof.

Using a power washer will not only wash away the integrity of your shingles, but it might not even solve your problem long term.

Instead, go to your local home department store and look for a specially designed spray to get rid of mold or moss.