As spring comes and you find yourself outside more often, you may look up at your roof and wonder if you’ve done all you need to do to get it ready for spring. The following are some steps you can take to make sure your home stays dry all year.
Remove Debris
As winter weather is replaced by spring rain, you want to make sure that there are no leaves or sticks on your roof and that your gutters are clear. When gutters overflow because they are filled with leaves or other debris, they can cause damage to the house. If you feel comfortable working on a ladder, clear twigs and leaves from the gutters with a trowel, beginning near the downspout. Use a hose to flush smaller debris.
If you aren’t comfortable working on a ladder, contact a contractor like us, at Don Sharp Home Improvements. If cleaning gutters is getting tiresome, you might want to have gutter guards installed—these prevent buildup in the gutters in the first place.
Check for Damage
Take a good look at your roof—you can do this from the ground, using binoculars. Look for evidence of roof damage, like loose flashing, missing shingles, or shingles that bulge outwards (buckling) or curl around the edges. Buckling or curled shingles may mean that the underlaying decking of your roof, or the felt directly under your shingles, has absorbed moisture.
Look Inside
It can be easy to miss a leak in your attic or crawlspace—you don’t spend much time there. While you’re checking on your roof, make sure you check on it from the inside, too. Look for roof damage signs, or evidence that moisture has gotten into the house—a puddle, a brown spot, mold, or even daylight that’s visible through the roof. Glance up while in your home to check for evidence of a damaged ceiling.
Take Care of Stains
If you see black stains on your roof, you may be observing algae. The good news is that algae doesn’t impact your roof’s structure—the worst thing it does is look unpleasant. If you want to increase the curb appeal of your home, you may want to wash your roof.
Roof power washing may seem like a good idea, but this can damage the shingles. At Don Sharp Home Improvements, we can help you clean your roof without a hassle. With the use of light pressure washing and biodegradable cleaning agents, we can help you get a quick start on your spring cleaning!
The Most Important Step You Can Take
Don’t wait around once you notice a problem. Roofing problems can only become more expensive—they won’t just go away! So if you see problems with the shingles, gutters, flashings, or evidence of a leak inside, call a professional to get the problem examined.
If you’re worried that something isn’t right, you can schedule a free inspection with Don Sharp Home Improvements, one of the most experienced roofing companies in Germantown and Collierville, TN, to figure out what’s going on and how to resolve the problem. Call us at (901) 335-4325.