roof maintenance in Greenville SC
Safeguard one of the biggest parts of your house– the roofing system– with regular cleaning and inspection. Ideally, this needs to be accomplished a minimum of two times a year, in the fall to get your roofing fit for the cold weather and once again in spring to see how it has stood up to winter’s hardships. Additionally, more frequent appointments might be essential after windstorms or heavy rains. Therefore, read the terms of your homeowner’s insurance plan and your roofing warranty carefully to see what roof maintenance is required. For the best care, establish a professional roof maintenance plan through your roofer.
Roof Safety Ideas
If you are planning to clean your roof yourself, begin working from the top down. Always use a sturdy ladder and work with a buddy or at a minimum let someone know that you are working from atop a ladder. Also, safeguard your hands with protective gloves and your eyes with safety glasses. Avoid walking on the roof surface where possible; however, if you must do so, ensure you are wearing rubber-soled shoes. In addition, watch out for power lines and stay off the roof after a rain to decrease the risk of electrical shock.
Roof Maintenance Tips: What to Watch for On Top of Your Roofing
Debris such as sticks and leaves. First, remove these with a broom. Moss, fungi, or algae. These organisms will “eat” your roof if left uncontrolled. Therefore, remove them with a long-handled brush. Then prevent vegetation from coming back by installing lead, zinc, or copper control strips. Nearby trees. Trim branches that are overhanging since these may fall in a storm, drop fruit, or act as a convenient “bridge” to let animal pests climb onto your roof in Greenville SC.
Roofing in Greenville SC
Bird population. Bird droppings often have a high acid content, which eats away at your roofing material. Furthermore, nests may obstruct your roof drains or your chimney, both major hazards. Drain blockage generally leads to standing water, the weight of which can cause the roof to collapse. A nest in your chimney is problematic in two ways when you use your fireplace: it is highly flammable and it can result in a buildup of deadly carbon monoxide gas inside your home. To stay safe, wear a mask when removing nests or droppings to avoid inhaling contaminants. Next, install a chimney cover to keep birds and other animals out in the future.
The Roofing Material Itself
Check for loose, cracked, curled, blistered, or missing shingles, which will need to roof repair or roof replacement. Also, try to identify rot or insect infestation in the wood. Inspect the flashing in the area of the chimney, vents, and exhaust pipes. Be on the alert for bends, holes, or dry, loose caulk. While you’re at it, check the condition of the caulk or mortar on roof joints and the chimney. Additionally, examine for traces of corrosion in any metal pieces.
Gutters and Downspouts
Look for dirt and leaves. Use a gutter scoop (plastic for flexibility and to avoid scraping the gutter bottom), together with a garden hose, to clean roof gutters and downspouts. Be sure to eliminate all obstructions, which can otherwise lead to ice dams. Heads up: Large quantities of colored shingle granules in your gutter signal a roof that is deteriorating. If you see this, you are encouraged to hire a professional roofing contractor in Greenville SC to assess the condition of your roofing.
Roof Maintenance: Under the Roof
Look at the underside of your roof from the attic as well. This will help determine if there are any risk indicators of leakage, such as dark spots, streaks, wood rot, moisture, dripping water, or mold. Because of this, getting leaks addressed as soon as possible—before they cause major damage—is one of the most critical roof maintenance in Greenville SC.
For more roofing tasks such as roof replacement and roof repair, you can always rely on a trusted professional for roof maintenance. Call KM Roof and Home Repair now.
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KM Roof and Home Repair
Greenville, SC 29609
864-990-3252
www.kmroofers.com
Areas we serve: Piedmont SC, Fountain Inn SC, Simpsonville SC, Greer SC, Taylors SC, Greenville SC, Travelers Rest SC