Now that snow, ice, and winter hailstorms are behind you, spring and summer are the perfect seasons to perform preventative roof maintenance.
Maintaining your roof isn’t time-consuming or complicated, but consistent care can catch problematic issues, like leaks, cracks, or missing shingles that cause costly damage to your home. Plus, annual summer upkeep can save you from premature replacement down the road.
As a local Indianapolis roofing company, we understand what it takes to keep the roof on your Indiana home in tip-top shape. Here are the eight maintenance items you can’t overlook this summer!
1. Clean Your Gutters
During the winter, your gutters become clogged with leaves, twigs, and other debris that prevent water from properly draining away from your home. Instead, backed-up gutters allow rainwater to seep below your roof and cause water stains, leaks, and other frustrating problems. They can also cause water to puddle at the base of your home, which can erode the foundations.
To prevent these problems, you should clean your gutters twice every year—once in the spring, and again in the fall. While you’re cleaning, verify that there aren’t any broken gutter pieces in the system from winter storms. If so, you may need a gutter replacement.
2. Inspect Your Shingles
Next, check your roof for any missing, broken, curling, cupping, or cracked shingles. Broken shingles are concerning because they expose your roof to the elements, making it more prone to water damage or leaks.
It’s crucial to inspect your shingles for damage at least once a year. However, it’s ideal to evaluate the state of your roof after every heavy wind, rain, or hailstorm. If you notice any issues with your shingles, you should call a professional roofing contractor immediately to determine if a roof repair or replacement is necessary.
3. Check for Leaks
Next, head to the attic to look for water spots on the walls or ceiling. Stains are telltale signs of a water leak—which means there’s a hole in your roof. You can also detect water damage if you smell mildew or see mold upstairs.
Call a professional roofing contractor to help you locate the leak and determine whether a complete roof replacement is necessary.
4. Trim Overgrown Branches
Do you have any large trees that shade your house? If so, they can become a hazard if they are overgrown.
First, tree branches that hang near your home can cause your gutters to become clogged more quickly with leaves and twigs, which can result in leaks and water stains. Second, heavy tree branches can break off in a storm and fall directly on your roof, which can cause roof damage. Third, squirrels and other critters often use trees as a launching point to jump onto your roof and squeeze into your attic.
To prevent these problems from occurring, hire a landscaper to keep heavy branches and leaves away from your roofing system.
5. Inspect the Flashing
Flashing is used to seal gaps, cracks, and seams along your roof where shingles aren’t present, like around your chimney, skylights, or vents.
When it’s working correctly, flashing prevents leaks, but over time, the sealant that attaches the flashing to your roof can become cracked, eroded, or broken. Confirm that your flashing is securely fastened to your roof, and if it’s not, contact a professional roofer immediately.
6. Patch Your Chimney
While you’re inspecting your roof, check your chimney for signs of crumbling bricks, mortar cracks, or other damage that can cause water to sneak into your home.
If you notice erosion or other damage, you may need to apply new waterproof mortar to your chimney to protect your home.
7. Wash Your Roof
One of the best ways to keep your roof in great shape is to wash it each year. Over time, algae can accumulate on your shingles, which may eventually cause your shingles to rot.
Before you pull out the power washer, it’s important to know that high water pressure can break, crack, or damage your shingles. Instead, it’s best to use a garden hose and soapy water to clean your roof.
8. Get a Roof Inspection
Even though you can spot many problems with your roof on your own, there are some issues that only the professionals can solve. That’s why a roof inspection with an Indianapolis roofing company every spring or summer is an excellent investment.
A yearly roof examination will decrease the likelihood of a premature roof replacement or severe damage. Inspections also give you the chance to ask these helpful questions to a roofing contractor to confirm they are reputable and reliable. Then, when it comes time for a roof replacement in the future, you’ll already have an established relationship with a company you trust.
Contact JD Hostetter for Local Indianapolis Roof Repair or Replacement
While you’re utilizing this maintenance checklist, you may realize your roof has some significant issues that need to be fixed immediately. If that’s the case, contact our friendly, expert team at JD Hostetter.
We’ve impressed hundreds of homeowners across Indiana with our workmanship, expertise, and professionalism on home exterior projects—including roof repair and replacement! Learn more about our residential roof services to discover the products and solutions available to add value, longevity, and curb appeal to your home.
