Tips and Tricks to Maintain a Shingle Roof

July 31, 2020

The Best Ways to Maintain Your Shingle Roof

Maintaining your shingle roof should be at the top of your list if you want to make sure it will last you more than a few years. And it can certainly last you more than a few decades with the right care and maintenance.

Immediately Replace Lost Shingles

One of the worst things you can do to your shingle roof is leaving sections of it open to the elements. Missing shingles can easily cause damage to the rest of your roof as rain, dirt, and pests can easily get in through the missing shingles. These things will slowly seep into the rest of your home and cause you more problems than you can imagine. This is why you should ensure that you replace any missing shingles

Proper Cleaning of the Roof, Gutters and Downspouts

This is a general tip that can be applied to every type of roof but is even more important for shingle roofs. Shingle roofs have a common issue of having things like dirt, trash, and leaves lodged in between shingles. This can cause them to come loose or slowly degrade the roof itself. Gutters and downspouts, on the other hand, have a separate impact on your shingle roof: Water.

If a roof’s gutters and downspouts are dirty and filled with junk, then you can expect water to start pooling. This water will slowly degrade your roof and makes it more susceptible to damage.

Clear Out Any Nearby Foliage That Could Damage Your Shingle Roof

The worst enemy of any roof is water, the second is foliage that could get stuck in the gutters and crevices of the roof itself. These leaves tend to come from nearby trees that could shed their leaves onto your roof. In extreme weather, they could even drop heavy branches onto your roof and punch a hole straight through. This is why you should always consider removing nearby trees or at least trimming them.

Install Improvements To Your Roof To Prevent Damage Before it Happens

Prevention is better than cure and that certainly holds true for maintaining a shingle roof. A great way to make sure that you’re preventing damage is to install a few improvements to your roof. These include things like seamless gutters, gutter guards, and spray foam insulation. They remove specific problems from the equation when it comes to keeping your shingle roof in top shape. For example, gutter guards make it much easier to clean your gutters, while seamless gutters effectively clean themselves because there are no crevices for junk to get stuck on.

Shingles are great roofing materials that both look great and can last a long while. With the right maintenance, your roof could last you several decades before it needs a full replacement. We hope that these tips and tricks can help you keep your shingle roof in great condition for many years to come!