The roof is arguably the most important part of a house. If it isn’t properly cared for, then the rest of the building could be in danger. Unfortunately, in addition to being the most important part of a house, the roof is also the most overlooked part. Very few homeowners ever even consider their roofs.

If you are guilty of not giving your roof the attention that it deserves, then now’s the time to change that. You will find some professional roof maintenance tips here, which you can then use to take care of it.

Professional Repairs

One of the most important things that you need to know is that if your home’s roof shows any serious signs of damage, then you need to get it professionally repaired. A lot of homeowners try to do repairs to their roofs themselves, but this is a very bad idea. According to professional roofers from Nations Roof, professionally performed repairs can significantly extend a roof’s lifespan. There are a few things that you need to consider before hiring a roofer, however. These things include their reviews, reputation, and level of experience. Also, the roofer that you hire should ideally be a member of a trade organisation. Roofers who are part of such organisations are less likely to take shortcuts and cut corners, because if they did then they would be held accountable by their organisation.

Trimming Trees

If there are trees with branches that overhang your roof on your property, you need to trim them every so often. It’s very common for the branches of trees to damage roofs. However, you should not attempt to trim tree branches yourself. You need to hire a professional arborist. An arborist will be able to safely reduce the branches of any trees on your property. If the trees belong to your neighbours, then you should ask them for their permission to trim the tree’s branches. Tree branches can drop debris on your roof, and actually push up or loosen shingles.

Cleaning Gutters

It is very important that you clean your gutters on a regular basis. If your gutters aren’t cleaned out, then when it rains they could get filled up with rainwater. If your gutters are filled with rainwater, then your roof will be exposed to large amounts of water. Over time, this can cause water to get into your attic, which can cause leaks. Also, organic debris that builds up in your gutters can attract birds and bats, as well as insects and other pests. These things can then find their way into your home’s roof through any holes and make themselves nests.

Weeding Roof

Unless your roof is a green roof, you need to keep it clear of any weeds or plants. Every so often, you should climb up onto your roof and weed it. Algae is the most harmful because it absorbs water. If you have lots of algae growth on your roof, then the water that it holds could find its way into your attic. You can remove algae with a scraper and a plastic device. Bear in mind that if you don’t remove all of it, it will quickly regrow. You can hire a roofing service to do this for you if you aren’t confident about climbing up onto your roof.

Replacing Tiles

If any tiles or shingles come loose, then they need to be replaced. If loose tiles fall off of your roof then they could hit people walking underneath them. Also, when a tile comes loose it then gives water and pests the opportunity to get into your attic. Leaks and attic infestations are nearly always caused by loose tiles. Again, if you are not confident replacing tiles on your roof yourself, then you can employ a roofer to do it for you. Roofers won’t charge a lot of money for this service.

Regular Sweeping

You can buy large extendable brushes that you can then use to sweep your roof. It’s very important to regularly sweep your roof so that you can keep it clear of debris. It’s common, especially in autumn, for organic waste to build up on your roof. This is especially true if you have a flat roof or a green roof. Sweeping your roof and keeping it clean will remove moisture, pests, and anything that could potentially damage your roof. Make sure that there’s nobody standing beneath your roof when you sweep it because anything that falls off could hit them.

Your roof needs to be taken care of. If you don’t look after it, then you could end up having to completely replace it. Total roof replacements aren’t cheap. With proper care and maintenance, however, a roof can last for decades. Look after yours, and it could outlive you.