The national average cost of roof repairs in the US is around $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot. This is dependent on the type of roof you have, the damage, and your location.
Maintaining your roof is the most important part of reducing repairs. After all, a roof needs maintenance just like any other part of your home.
Roof maintenance will keep it in good condition and spot any serious issues. This is a huge money-saving tip if you are worried about roof repairs or replacement.
Keep reading to find out things you should do when maintaining your roof.
Have Inspections Done
The number one tip on this roofing guide is to have roof inspections done. Experts recommend homeowners have their roofs inspected twice every year. Especially if your roof is 15+ year old.
This can be done anytime, but it is best to do in the fall or spring, or after heavy weather. You could have your roof inspected after a storm or after a particularly windy or rainy week.
You can hire the O’Donnell Roofing Co. to do a roof inspection for you. The experts will arrive and will access your roof to check it for any damage.
They will be able to find out if any shingles are missing or areas that could lead to water damage. This ensures damage will be repaired before it grows severe.
Hiring professionals is much safer than trying to inspect your roof yourself. This is also something that can help you out with your home insurance if you have roof costs.
Clean Gutters
One of these maintenance tips every homeowner should follow is cleaning your gutters. The number one cause of flood and erosion on your roof is full gutters that are clogged.
Gutters are there to collect leaves and other debris that the rain washes up. This is also where water is caught after it has run off the sides of your roof.
If the gutters are not cleaned, the debris will continue to build up. This will fill up the gutter and result in it holding water, rather than redirecting it.
The water gutters will become heavy and could start to cause damage to the roof. They might also break, resulting in you needing to add new gutters.
You can clean your gutters yourself or hire roofing services to maintain them for you.
Remove Debris
Another tip is to remove any debris that collects on your roof. As time goes by, it is normal for things to start falling on your roof and collecting.
Some examples of common roof debris include:
- Leaves
- Branches
- Garbage
- Nests
These are things that can fall on your roof or be blown there by the wind. A few leaves or a nest or two is not a huge problem, but it can build up.
It is best to remove anything that has been collecting on your roof before it starts to cause problems. This also applies to winter if you get snow that is collecting on the roof.
Trim Back Roof Risks
If you have trees that grow around your home, you need to trim them back. Trees pose a huge risk to roofs since they can start to grow over the roof itself.
Tree branches can extend over your roof and cause the risk of extensive damage. Dead branches may fall onto the roof, or stormy weather could blow them onto it.
Branches can be very heavy and could put a hole in your roof. At the very least, they can start to add weight and cause leaking.
In more severe cases, the weight of tree branches could cause your roof to collapse. Because of this, you need it to regularly trim back tree branches from your roof.
This should be done every year to trim back any new growth. Trimming the trees also helps to prevent leaves from building up on your roof.
Have Damage Repaired
If you notice any damage to your roof, you need to have it repaired. Part of maintaining your roof includes paying attention to anything that could cause problems.
You should act immediately if you notice any kind of damage. This could be damage that you see on the outside or the inside of your home.
The faster the damage is repaired, the less extensive the repairs will be. This will save you money and help to preserve your new roof.
Check for Indoor Leaks
Homeowners should often look around their homes for any signs of leaking. If you have an attic, this is a prime place to check for roof leaks.
Leaking isn’t always obvious, but there are some signs you may be able to catch, such as:
- Wet Smell
- Mold Smell
- Streaks
- Dampness
- Condensation
If you believe that your roof is leaking, you should have an inspection done immediately. An expert will be able to locate the damage and provide a solution.
Acting quickly will ensure the issues are addressed before the damage becomes severe. Making sure your attic and roof are properly insulated will also help with this.
Maintaining Your Roof 101 for Homeowners
If you are a homeowner, maintaining your roof should be a top priority. Getting a new roof is very expensive and is often preventable with these maintenance tips—or if you’re not a DIYer, roof maintenance plans like the ones offered by O’Donnell Roofing Co.
If you don’t have a plan, you will need it to do yearly tasks like cleaning your gutters and trimming back any trees. You should also hire a roofing company to inspect your roof a few times a year for any damage.
Do you need any roofing services for your home? Contact us today at O’Donnell Roofing to schedule your first roof inspection.
