Roof Maintenance Tips for Spring

As the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” That couldn’t be more accurate when it comes to your residential or commercial roof; maintenance is important. Replacing a roof can be a costly and time-consuming process, so it is critical to inspect your roof at least twice a year – once in spring and once in fall. A well-maintained roof will go a long way to prevent it from damage and can catch simple repairs early which can increase the life of your roof. So this spring, follow these suggestions from Hercules Roofing!

Remove Debris

Debris on your roof causes two problems. First off, it just doesn’t look good. Second, debris traps moisture, and moisture is the prime condition for mildew, mold, and moss. These things can cause your tiles to rot which causes them to need to be replaced. To clean debris, you can use your hand to pick up the big pieces. A soft broom, or a leaf blower if you have one, can remove the rest of the debris that is left over. Be careful with a broom – too much pressure can scrape off the granules or damage tiles which will reduce the life of your roof.

Do Not Pressure Wash

This point is serious enough to include in its own section. Let’s just say you saw your neighbor on his roof pressure washing last weekend, and now it looks brand new. You’ve got a pressure cleaner that you use on your driveway, so why not just haul it up to the roof and get that debris, mold, and moss in one shot? Besides being dangerous, a pressure washer does more harm than good, and you’ll end up replacing the roof sooner than you had planned. The water from the pressure washer damages the tiles by scraping off the granules, and it causes debris and moisture to get lodged between tiles, causing your roof to rot.

Check for Leaks

The best time to check for a roof leak is when it’s raining because that’s when the leaks will be easiest to see. Bring a flashlight into the attic and check for the tell-tale signs: wet insulation, water stain on the wall, puddles on the floor, or mold and mildew growth. Unfortunately, the leak’s origin may not be obvious. Either way, you should always call in a professional as soon as you suspect a leak. At Hercules Roofing, we know the tricks water can play to get through even the best roofing systems. We can replace your shingles and make the other necessary repairs to your leaky roof. We even provide 24-hour, emergency service to stop the leak right away!

Clean the Gutters

You should regularly check your gutters, especially after a big storm. You may think that your gutters hang off your roof, so they don’t affect the roof. However, if your gutters aren’t clean, the water and debris that should be draining through them will be trapped on the roof. At this point in the article, you should be well aware of the dangers of moisture and debris! Cleaning your gutters can be easy with the right tools and a little time, but the reward is not having to replace your roof.

Trim Trees

Now that you have removed all that debris from your roof, the best way to keep more from returning is to prune your trees. In addition, pruning will keep large branches from falling and damaging the roof. Long branches that lean over your roof could also scrape the granules off the tiles or knock them lose altogether. Trimming the trees is good preventative maintenance for making sure that your gutters don’t clog as fast.

Call Hercules Roofing

Hercules Roofing is a licensed, bonded, and insured roofing company proudly serving South Florida. We’ll give you a free estimate whether you think you have a leak, need preventative maintenance or something just doesn’t seem right. Give Hercules Roofing a call at 561-220-9998.