If you’re like most homeowners in St. Paul and Minneapolis, you’re relieved that the harsh winter weather is over and warm summer days are just around the corner!
Sunny days are ideal for completing outdoor maintenance tasks, like inspecting your roof. Your roofing system takes a beating during the winter to keep your family warm and dry, so it’s important to perform preventative maintenance when the weather is nice to extend your roof’s lifespan.
Spring/Summer Tasks to Check Off for Your Roof
To make spring cleaning easier, simply follow this list of essential maintenance tasks to keep your roof in great shape.
1. Clean Your Gutters
During the winter, your gutters can become filled with leaves, twigs, dirt, and debris. When your gutters become clogged, they cannot filter water away from your home’s siding, roofing, and foundation, and the debris may also attract pests looking for a place to nest, like mice and birds. Additionally, when your gutters are clogged, they become heavy and may bend, sag, or even fall off your home.
When cleaning your gutters, inspect your roof for water spots caused by backed-up gutters that may need to be replaced or repaired. You should also ensure your gutters are securely fastened onto your home and operating correctly before the next rainstorm!
2. Trim Your Trees
Large trees hanging over your roof may look beautiful, but they can be problematic when they’re not properly maintained.
First, when these trees lose their leaves, they’re more likely to fall into your gutters, causing a blockage that prevents water from draining correctly. Weak tree limbs can also fall onto your house during powerful storms, causing costly structural damage that poses a safety concern for you and your family.
3. Look for Mold
Minnesota winters are snowy, and the summers are warm and humid—which can, unfortunately, lead to the growth of algae, mold, and mildew on your roofing shingles.
Moss and algae can eventually cause your shingles to crack if left untreated. If you notice these unsightly growths on your roof, remove them immediately with a cleaning solution containing an equal amount of water and bleach to restore your roof’s curb appeal and maintain its long-lasting strength.
4. Visit Your Attic
Unfortunately, your roof’s surface isn’t the only place that can suffer damage from mold growth and moisture. Typically, your attic will experience the most considerable damage if your roof has a leak.
Check your attic and insulation for mold growth or water stains, and if you notice any, contact your local roofing contractor immediately. They can help you evaluate the extent of the damage and determine if you need a minor repair or a full roof replacement.
5. Evaluate Your Roof’s Shingles
Your roofing shingles are the most vulnerable component of your roofing system, so during harsh winter storms, it’s not uncommon for them to break, crack, buckle, curl, or blow away. If you have damaged or missing shingles, it’s essential to replace them as quickly as possible to protect your home from water deterioration.
It’s wise to hire a professional contractor to complete the job to ensure your roofing shingles are securely and correctly fastened—even if the repairs are minor.
6. Clean Your Roof
Your gutters aren’t the only place that can accumulate dirt and debris—your roof can too! It’s essential to clear away twigs, branches, and other items that can scratch your roof and make it more vulnerable to water damage.
Once you’ve cleared away the debris, you can clean your roofing shingles with a garden hose and gentle cleaning product. And avoid using a pressure washer or harsh chemicals—these tools can cause significant damage to your roof.
7. Check Roofing Materials
At this point, you’ve spent plenty of time inspecting your roofing shingles. However, it’s also critical to pay attention to other components of your roofing system, such as your flashings.
Flashings are metal strips secured around vulnerable areas on your roof, like your chimney, skylights, and vents. You should inspect your flashings to make sure they aren’t missing or loose, and if they are, replace them. If the areas your flashings cover become exposed, they’ll likely allow moisture to creep into your home, causing costly damage.
Give Your Roof the Care It Needs with Beissel Window & Siding
If you find yourself in need of a roof repair or replacement after completing this roof maintenance checklist, we’d be happy to help.
Beissel Window & Siding offers multiple selections of roofing materials and manufacturers, like Owens-Corning®, GAF®, and CertainTeed®, so you can find the perfect match for your home. We’ll walk you through each option to make sure you feel confident with your choice!
Learn more about our roofing services to discover how we can help you restore your roof’s low-maintenance beauty and longevity with a roof replacement.
