Yard work, house cleaning, property repairs and residential upgrades—homeownership opens you up to a whole new world of responsibilities, including summertime maintenance. With its warm, calm weather and more daylight, the summer season is an excellent time to inspect your roof for (and to fix) any damages that may have been caused by late winter or early spring storms. With that in mind, here are some summer maintenance tips to help you avoid needing costly roofing services in Seminole County, FL:
- Check for signs of damage: You don’t have to get up on your roof to inspect it. From the ground, look up and check for signs of damage, including shingles that are broken, warped or cracked, exposed tar paper and missing shingles. And if you want to get a closer look without having to climb a ladder, use a pair of binoculars or a camera with zoom capabilities. For a more thorough inspection, take a walk around your property looking for fallen roofing materials, like whole or partial shingles and ripped pieces of tar or felt paper.
- Inspect the flashing: You may not be aware, but the purpose of flashing material—those metal strips that surround fixtures on your roof—are important for keeping water from leaking inside your home. Placed over vulnerable sections of your roof, the flashing works by redirecting rainwater away from connecting seams between your roof and rooftop fixtures like chimneys, vents, skylights and HVAC units. Inspect the flashing around all roof fixtures for signs of loosening or deterioration.
- Trim back foliage: Believe it or not, maintaining trees that are close to your home’s roof can protect your property from damage and prevent the need for expensive repairs. Overhanging tree branches that are in constant contact with your roof have the potential to weaken shingles, especially when branches blow in the wind, dragging across the surface of your roof. And a strong enough wind can not only cause shingles to get knocked off by swaying limbs—it can also send broken limbs crashing down on top of your roof. This summer, trim back foliage that hangs over or makes contact with your house.
- Clean and check gutters: Shingles lifting, rotting materials, even mold growth around your roof—you’ll stave off all sorts of water damage when you keep your rain gutters clean and check for issues. Start by removing leftover leaves, dirt, small sticks, pollen and other natural debris from the wetter months to avoid water backup during summer storms. Leaving gutters clogged can make them collapse under too much weight, or water might overflow and settle under roofing material that could lead to indoor leaks or mold and mildew problems. Also check for loose gutters, and then tighten bolts and screws. Make sure all gutters are positioned to direct water away from your roof.
Issues with roofs and roofing materials can arise anytime of the year, and summer is no exception. If you’re looking for an experienced company for roof maintenance, installation or repairs, contact the team at Winter Springs Roofing & Repairs today—we provide all types of roofing services in Seminole County, FL.