The hottest months come with heavy rain, scorching sun, and high winds that can potentially damage your roof over time. As the heat continues to rise, there are certain things you have to do to prepare your home for the rest of this season. Make sure to take your roof maintenance seriously during this season.  We’ve compiled 6 top maintenance tips that’ll help you. Read through!

Summer Roofing Maintenance Tips

Here are some of the top roofing maintenance tips you should apply during winter:

• Check for algae, mold, and moss

Summer sometimes comes with humidity and rain, conditions that can cause algae growth. Over time, algae can eat off your shingles and cause the roof to decay. Algae can be found not only on roofs but also on gutters due to the water buildup. Since algae really occur during the summer months, it can damage the roof if not addressed appropriately.

In the long run, moss left on roofs can cause shingles to crack and curl. Heavy moss can create buildup under the shingles, damage the roof deck and block water. If you see algae or moss on your roof, remove it immediately so it doesn’t cause moisture to trap and cause mold growth. Regularly check your roof sold damage can happen fast.

• Check your attic

During summer, the attic heats up to 150°, and the roof absorbs a lot of heat from the sun’s rays during the day. This heat radiates into your attic air. An attic that’s not well ventilated can cause heat to build up, shortening the lifespan of your roof. The heat can cause your shingles to crack and curl, resulting in roof leaks. That’s why it’s advisable to always insulate your attic to keep heat and moisture out during the summer.

Additionally, it’s necessary to always check out for any signs of mold and moisture in the attic and rafters during summer, since it can result in water leakage from your roof. By the way, here are some signs of roof mold damage you can see from your attic:

1. If you notice watermarks along the walls of your attic or your ceiling, the roof may have a hole.
2. If the rafters are discolored then the wood has absorbed the water from a leak above your roof.
3. If your attic smells musty and you notice mildew across your ceiling, there’s a roof leak.
4. Replace missing shingles

Replacing shingles may seem like an easy job, but placing new shingles over old ones or using the wrong nails can result in serious damage. The wrong shingle could grow algae, crack, or fade. For instance, walking on damaged shingles during roof inspection can cause more damage and lead to roof leaks in the future.

More so, even the smallest patchwork repairs can impact the overall health and safety of your roof. That’s why most homeowners hire roof professionals like us to inspect and replace their missing shingles.

• Trim tree limbs

It’s very important for you to regularly trim the trees that hang over your roof to prevent them from falling off during a storm. Even if the tree seems healthy and strong, the harsh summer storms can cause it to break and fall on your roof. Branches that hang close to the roof can easily damage it and scrape the strip layers of your asphalt and shingles.

They can also cause the gutters to clog because of the fallen twigs and leaves. If you’ll be doing the trimming yourself, be extra careful with overhanging branches especially if you have a cedar shake roof as they are prone to moisture buildup and need to breathe.

• Remove any debris

Clean up all debris on your roof, including the branches and twigs that can damage your shingles and eventually poke holes that could cause roof leaks. Interestingly, when the roof is clean and has no debris on it, it can adequately reflect the sun rays and prevent your home from overheating during summer.

Most importantly, if you intend to remove debris from your roof on your own, safety should be your utmost priority. Ensure you wear slip-resistant shoes and consider using a leaf blower to clear parts of the roof that you cannot reach. And remember, never power wash your roof. That’s because power washing can lift shingles and expose the roof to severe damage by winds.

• Clean up and replace loose gutters

Cleaning out gutters is essential in preventing damage to your home. It’s important to clean your gutters regularly especially during summer, since many things can clog the drains and gutters, including birds’ nests, dirt, leaves, and more. If you observe insects crawling around in your gutters, there’s a high possibility that they are clogged.

When your roof gutters are clogged, water will accumulate on your roof and stay underneath your shingles (causing mold growth and decay). So, it’s best to always check your gutters after every severe storm as debris might have found its way into your gutters.

Wrap Up

Your thoughts right now will be on whether to hire a roofing expert for the maintenance or do it yourself. The truth is that roofing is a complex and delicate job. Without the right knowledge, proper equipment, and materials, you may end up causing further damage to your roof and hurting yourself during the process.

Visit our roofing experts at 118-35 Queens Blvd Forest Hills, NY 11375, or call (718) 414-6067 https://www.nycrenovators.com/ for professional roofing services.