Like any investment, the best way to keep your roof in good shape is creating an active maintenance routine, and sticking to it. Roof maintenance may be the last thing you want to do on your free day, but it definitely pays off in the long run.

Roof  care  should  be  done  at  least  three times a year. Make an effort by checking your roof at the beginning of spring and fall to ensure  it  is  ready  for  heavy  summer  rains and winter storms. The main reason for roof maintenance is to prevent damages and ensure that moisture can travel away from the roof. 

You  should  concentrate  on  the  following  tasks  when  you  are  up  on  the  roof:  clearing  any  downspouts and buildup out the gutters,  sweeping off the roof's surface and power washing  areas  that  have  moss  growth, and keep an eye on any signs of water disrepair or penetration.

The  best  roof  maintenance  tip  that  helps  and has no cost is catching any roof problems early. All you need to do is to take a look  at your ceilings and roof. By taking that step, you will know how  the  roof  will look when it's in good shape and adequately maintained  versus  when  there  is  a problem. That knowledge will  help  you  understand  problems early, thus fixing the small problems rather than bigger renovations.

You   should   keep  an  eye  on  missing  shingles,  patches  and cracks,  any  appearance of leaning or sagging, wet spots on the ceiling, algae growth, downspouts, and detached gutters.

Investing  some  money  for  preventive  care  will help you keep your roof safe rather than replacing the entire structure later. First, you  have  to  tackle  the  attic.  Ensure  that your attic has suitable insulation. A laid layer of insulation appropriately placed will help keep  your  house  interior  temperature  stable  by  preventing  water  vapor  from passing on the roof's underside. Thus it helps in saving  cooling  and  heating  costs.  It's  also  recommended that you add a layer of vapor retarder underneath the insulation to get extra protection.

When  you  are  done  taking  care of the insulation, you are required to work on the ventilation. Good ventilation will keep moisture from  destroying  the roof's rafters and sheathing. All you have to do is check on your attic's vents from the outside. Make sure they are free from debris. If your vents are small, buy a ventilation fan to offer dryness.

Tree  limbs  close  to your home can bring a good landscape view,  but  they  can  cause  serious problems. Branches and limbs  that  are  knocked  loose  during  a  storm  can  cause damages  to your roof and give access for rodents to invade your   home.  The  best  way  to  deal  with  these  limbs  and branches  is  by clearing them away. Trim any tree branches growing close to your buildings' roof.

Roof  coating  is  the  best  method  in  roof  maintenance  tips, and there are many types of roof coating you can choose from. Roof coatings are of different types, but the best two include:

Acrylic:  They  are  inexpensive  and  the  most  durable  elastomeric  coatings  in  today's  industry. Acrylic coatings comprise potent biocides   and   high   solids   emulsion   polymers  that  the  extreme  UV  climates  and  helps  provide  superior  resistance  to  dirt accumulation and mildew.

Silicone:  Silicone roof coating  is  the  best  choice  in roof coating when resisting pond water and UV protection. They erode slower than  other  roof  coatings  without  becoming  hard,  and  they  have  high-solids  content  that  gives  a  film  thickness  even  when the material is less.

Hire a professional  to  work  on  your  roof  if  you  are  worried about safety risks or unsure of what to do. If you don't have any roofing    contractor    in    mind,    just    ask    your   friends   for recommendations  or  check online. Interview them and choose a  roofing contractor that can offer you estimates regarding the cost, that has insurance, and will put the agreement in a written contract.

Bottom line

No  one  would  like  to  replace  his or her roof. Unfortunately, every homeowner must face such a strategy if the roof is not maintained  correctly.  All  you have to do is take care of the roof you already have and always be active in roof maintenance. Your roof will last for decades when you follow the tips above.

About the Author

For  the  past  20  years,  American  High  Tech  Roof  Coating  has  been  owned  by  Javier  Chavez  who runs their company throughout the Los Angeles, California Area servicing commercial buildings that require new roofs but opt into silicone cool roofing instead.