What the Experts Have to Say

Summer is a great season to get your roof in tip-top shape. Ensuring that your roof is in good condition prepares it to be more resilient for summer storms or the more abrasive winter weather later in the year. Here are some quick tips for maintaining your roof in the summer months.

Let’s Start With Cleaning

A good place to start is to clean up the gutters and downspouts. These are both very important parts of a home’s roof, as they control and route the flow of rainwater to the ground which protects your roof as well as the foundation of your home. Once summertime begins, gutters and downspouts tend to collect debris from the spring e.g. leaves, small branches, etc.

This debris pile-up can clog your gutters which may result in a roof leak. The dirt that tends to build up in the drain may also cause an overflow in the gutters. It’s recommended to use a gutter brush to clean this debris and a garden hose to rinse out the dirt that remains. Don’t forget to put on a pair of protective gloves as the summer can be extremely hot and the gutters or downspouts can retain that heat fairly well.

While cleaning, it’s also important to be on the lookout for any moss, algae, or mold growth on your roof. In addition to affecting the general aesthetic of your roof, moss is the most adverse of all since it holds and releases moisture and can cause your roof to rot. Heavy build-up of aged moss can be killed with potassium salt-infused products, and the installation of copper strips can aid in the prevention of regrowth. Mold and algae can usually be brushed off and/or removed using a pressure washer.

Check the Flashing

It’s important not to forget the flashing, which refers to the metal strips located around the roof. Over time, they may crack or even loosen. When doing a basic at-home roof inspection, it’s worth taking a look at the condition of the flashing to proactively detect damage or wear and tear. It’s a good idea to replace them sooner rather than later as more severe damage will be the most costly to remediate.

Trimming Overhanging Trees

It’s very important to trim or remove any tree limbs that hang over your home, as they present a risk of breaking and falling during severe summer storms. Safety hazards can range from damaging the roof to potentially injuring you or a member of the household. Less severe, windy weather may still pose a risk of the branches scraping against shingles. The summertime is an ideal time to proactively clean up the overhanging limbs.

Schedule a Roof Inspection

While a lot of debris within the gutter system or broken tree limbs on a roof may be easily visible, a thorough inspection by a roofing company is still always the safest bet. A lot of roof damage, especially the more subtle shingle wear and tear, is difficult if not impossible to view from the ground level. Nu Look Home Design specializes in getting roofs damaged by storms or heavy winds covered by their homeowners’ insurance, which means that customers can get their roof replaced for just the cost of a deductible in most cases. We offer free, thorough inspections and provide pictures of the damage to provide clear documentation to supplement the claim.
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A consistent roof maintenance routine helps homeowners save money and time in the long run. Contact Nu Look Home Design for a free roof inspection as part of your summer-ready roof routine by calling 410-636-1650 or emailing us at info@nlhd.com.