Why Cleaning Gutters Matters
Unless there is a problem with it, you probably do not give much thought to your roof. Well, that will certainly change if you run into a situation where a repair is needed and the cost is high.
Of all the sections of your home, is there any one that is more amazing then the roof? It expands as it heats up during the day and shrinks at night when the sun is off it. It can take rain and win, but keeps functioning every day.
A roof is able to hold up under these stresses because it is well thought out. It is not just a bunch of shingles. It is a multilayered system. Each system is different, but all have a few common elements.
Think of a hull on a ship. Your roofing performs the same function. It creates a uniform barrier that produces a water tight barrier. It is usually made up of an outer area of shingle with wood and waterproofing material underneath.
Perhaps the most critical component of our upside down boat are edges and penetration points. To seal these areas, roofers use metal flashing and waterproof sealants. These essentially act like caps on a bottle of soda.
What is the biggest threat to roofs? It is often the weekend warrior. We are a nation that loves DIY projects. Roofing is one area where you should avoid trying to do projects on your own. You can cause hugely expensive problems.
Second, the integrated nature of a roof can make repairs expensive. You are not just fixing the small leak. You have to rip up a chunk of roof in the area to make sure everything is integrated and creating a waterproof barrier.
So, what is the magic thing that will help you avoid roof problems in the first place? Well, there really is not much to it. The simple answer is to do a bit of maintenance each year and you should avoid expensive fixes.
The initial maintenance step is easy. Walk a lap around your home looking at the roofing. If you see anything on it or tree limbs rubbing against it, get rid of them. Also, have anything that looks askew fixed. Broken shingles are the most common problem.
Our second maintenance step is to clean the roof. This needs to be done each and every year. The best time is in spring, but any time will do. The goal is to get any growths, dirt and what have you off.
Our next step is hated by homeowners everywhere. The gutters are part of the roof. Backed up gutters mean backed up water. This water can penetrate the under edge of the roof and cause all kinds of mayhem. Clean them!
That is it. Three simple steps that can be the difference between a roof that lasts 40 years and one that has a wide variety of problems that pop up each time a storm hits. Dealing with leaks during storms is a drag, so do the maintenance.
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