Spring cleaning doesn't just apply to the inside of your home. Outdoor maintenance includes your roof too! Spring is a great time to do maintenance to help your roof recover from winter storms and prep for spring showers. The out-of-sight, out-of-mind mentality can lead to untreated roof problems that can lead to massive leaks and repair issues.
The National Roofing Contractors Association recommends that homeowners get a roof inspection every fall and spring. You can schedule a free video inspection with Roof It Forward to get your spring roof inspection.
Keep reading for the best spring roof maintenance tips for 2022.
Clean Gutters
Debris can easily build up in your gutters and downspouts throughout the fall and winter. With your gutters full of debris, they won't be able to drain rainwater properly throughout spring rainstorms.
How to Clean Your Gutters:
If your gutters aren't cleaned out properly, water can overflow the gutters and can cause structural damage to your home over time. Also, if your gutters are full of water, the weight of the water can damage your roof and cause your gutters to fall over time.
While you can call a company to clean out your gutters, you might choose to take this on yourself. Since you will need a ladder to reach your gutters, remember these ladder safety tips:
Keep the ladder on solid, level ground.
Secure the ladder to make sure it doesn't slip.
Here are tips on how to properly clean out your gutters:
Take out any seeds, pine needles, sticks, and leaves from the gutters. You can use your hand with a glove or a small garden trowel.
Do not use a hose or water to clean out debris because this could reclog your gutters.
Once all debris is removed, use your garden hose to remove any additional residual matter.
To clean your downspout, turn your hose to full blast into the downspouts.
Follow these tips to make sure your gutters are cleaned properly and avoid any unnecessary damage to your property.
Check for Pests
Sometimes different animals, birds, mice, raccoons, and more, can make their nests on your roof, which can eventually lead to damage on your roof. These animals could also tear off your shingles to get into your attic. If you can spot any nests while you're cleaning out your gutters, you don't need to risk your safety. Schedule a roof inspection with Roof It Forward so our professionals can take a closer look.
Trim Your Trees
Overhanging tree branches can be very dangerous for your roof. While they are not only shedding leaves and sticks that can end up in your gutters, a storm can break a branch, causing it to land on your roof. A branch landing on your roof can cause punctures and extensive damage. Trimming any branches that hang over your roof or are touching your roof is a great place to start. If you are concerned about tackling this yourself, you can contact a tree trimming company to take care of this.
Document Any Damage You See
If you see any damaged or missing shingles, spots where the layers underneath your roof are exposed, or any spots that seem concerning, try to take a photo from the ground to document any possible damage. If you end up needing to file an insurance claim, your insurance provider will ask for any documentation of evidence of the damage.
Schedule a Free Spring Video Inspection with Roof It Forward
During your outdoor spring cleaning maintenance, you may see a few spots on your roof that are concerning. To give yourself peace of mind and make sure your roof is taken care of, schedule a free video inspection with Roof It Forward. This allows our professionals to bring your roof down to you! We can then show you what is going on with your roof, whether there is damage or not, and go over your options if repair or replacement is necessary.
Keep yourself safe by allowing our roofing professionals at Roof It Forward to take care of your roof. Schedule your free inspection today to make sure your roof can weather spring showers.