The Importance of Regular Roof Maintenance

As professional roofers, one of the things we encounter time after time is being called for roof emergencies. These unfortunate situations can sometimes be avoided through regular roof maintenance. 

Here’s why this simple bi-annual step can save you thousands of dollars and keep your home comfy and dry.

Regular Roof Maintenance is Thorough

Regular roof maintenance helps prevent leaks, structural damage, and costly repairs with a thorough inspection that includes:

• Looking for visible issues such as missing or damaged shingles, staining, damaged eavestroughs, etc.
• Inspecting eavestroughs for signs of damage and clogging hazards like bird’s nests
• Inspecting the roof for entry points for animals or signs of pests
• Removing debris, such as branches, leaves, etc., from both your roof and eaves troughs
• Checking your roof ventilation for blockage and damage
• Examining all elements of your roofing system, including flashing and soffits
• Sealing to protect against potential leaks, including areas such as chimneys, skylights, etc.
• Presenting an estimate for additional repairs

Once the inspection is complete, you’ll be presented with an estimate for additional repairs. These repairs can often be completed on the spot depending on the level of damage and the materials involved.   

Extending Your Roof’s Life

Annual roof maintenance is preventative care that allows us to spot common issues that occur over time. When we inspect your roof, we look for damage caused by the elements, wildlife and basic wear and tear and then fix it. Every issue we find will only get worse if not caught early. So, by calling us once a year (or whenever you spot damage), we’ll take all the steps necessary to protect your roof with effective repairs to avoid costly leaks that lead to structural damage. It’s the smart homeowner’s way to save money in the long run.

Keeping Your Home Safe and Sound

It’s easy to underestimate the significant role your roof plays in the structure of your home. In fact, it’s one of the most important house features as it provides a barrier against the elements for your entire exterior. 

Roof maintenance assessments find all the little issues that can impact your home’s structural integrity in very big ways. While something major like a massive branch on your roof following high winds is obvious, it’s the little, hidden issues you need to watch out for, like leaks. Leaks lead to wood rot, mold, and damage impacting the following:

• Mold that impacts your health
• Insulation that interferes with your energy efficiency
• Inefficient water management which can lead to foundation issues with moisture and mold, not to mention flooding in basements
• Structural damage to your underlying wood supports, including beams, walls, rafters, etc.

All these things are serious threats to your home’s structure, including the risk of a complete roof collapse.

Protecting Your Assets

Leaks are so sneaky, it’s just a matter of time before they start causing damage to your home’s interior. The last thing you want is to find you’ve not only lost your family heirlooms, or home theater equipment, but that your insurance company refuses to cover your losses due to “neglect.” Having a trail of paperwork showing you managed your roof’s maintenance can go a long way to getting the coverage you deserve.

Passing Home Inspections

If you’re not investing money in home maintenance because you plan to sell soon, this is a major mistake. Poorly maintained homes cost you even more money than you can imagine. When a home inspector discovers roof issues and any roof related damage to the rest of your home, you’ll find offers tend to disappear. 

You’ll either need to a) Perform all the necessary repairs, which will cost a bit depending on how long you’ve let your roof go, or b) Take a substantial hit on your final sale price to accommodate the buyer’s repairs. Regular roof maintenance will ensure you pass inspection and provide a paper trail showing how well you maintained your roof.

Spending Money to Save Money

The minimal amount required to cover a thorough roof inspection and any necessary repairs will always be more affordable than the more serious repairs or roof replacements related to damage resulting from a lack of care. Basically, the small repairs made today avoid more costly repairs tomorrow.

Regular roof maintenance helps maintain your home’s curb appeal, eliminates the risk of extensive damage over time, and reduces the costs of roof repairs. With one professional inspection each year (or however many times you need one), you’ll ensure your roof makes it through another season while prolonging life and optimizing performance.

Learn more about the roofing services the Lutgen Companies team offers to protect your most valuable asset! Contact us today!