How Frequently Should You Clean Up Your Roof? 

You may enjoy the progression from one season to another, but your roof may suffer. Heat, rainfall, snowfall, and heavy winds may create the ideal settings for mold and fungi to develop.

Algae, moss, mildew, and lichen can develop on your shingles and tear of the roofing membranes or loosen shingles in some cases. This generates an ideal setting for a pool and water to eventually gather in your house’s interior.

So what is the ideal frequency for cleaning up your roof?

This is a solid question but tricky to answer. The frequency of cleaning your roof is based on different factors that influence the state of your roof. We’ll briefly mention these variables so you will be able to tell if your roof needs cleaning or not (yet). Firstly, we are going to discuss how to safely and efficiently clean your roof so let jump right in!

How To Clean Your Roof Properly

Above anything else, any reputable commercial roofing company will suggest that you don’t jump on the roof yourself as it is incredibly dangerous. We’ve witnessed many major accidents and injuries of people that were not careful or skilled enough to move around the roof securely.

It’s hazardous because fungi and moss or humidity can make the surface of the roof very slippery.
Now let’s determine how often you should get your roof professionally cleaned.

Factors That Influence Your Roof’s State

There are two key culprits of contaminated and moss-infected roofs:

1. Excessive humidity encourages the development of fungi, moss, and bacteria.
2. Fundamental damage that enables water to flow under your shingles or tiles not exposed to the sun. Note: When there is impairment, we typically suggest our repair solutions before cleaning up your roof.

1. Strong Rainfall

Water collection on your roof from heavy rainfalls generates the ideal humidity settings for moss, fungi, and germs to grow. Following super rainy winters, you will find that there is much more fungi and moss accumulation on your roof than expected.

The amount of rainfall that hits your roof has a major impact on the cleaning frequency of your roof.
If you are still unsure on whether your roof could benefit from some cleaning or not, you should hire a professional to clean it. Feel free to call us for a free check and quote.

2. Too Much Shading

Many homes are frequented beneath the shade of big trees. Trees are a great natural sight and they certainly help control the summer heat and raise the value of your property. Sadly, they can also prevent any humidity from escaping your roof.

If your roof is exposed to a covered area, you’ll most likely need a professional roof check and cleaning job on a regular basis.

3. Fallen Leaves And Extra Debris

If you find that leaves or other types of debris and dirt pile up on your roof, this is a sign that you need to perform roof cleanings more often. Here is the reason why:

When leaves fall and pile up on your roof, they also enclose humidity and that is the perfect breeding ground for fungi, germs, and moss, which may even lead to the formation of leaks. As we already realize, too much humidity is bad news for our roofs.

4. Other Reasons

There are several other factors that affect the frequency of cleaning and possibly maintaining your roof. Here are some:

  • Heavy snowfall that piles up on your roof for a good amount of time
  • A fierce wind or hail storm that may have destroyed your roof tiles, shingles, and shakes
  • Strike to your roof from a fallen tree trunk or branch
  • Any moment you see leaking, or lost shingles or other similar indicators of impairment.

10 Major Indicators Your Roof Needs To Be Replaced

The majority of people nowadays don’t spare too much energy and time taking care of their roofs. It’s just something given that they ignore. However, ignoring the needs of your roof can lead to major issues in your business and result in expensive fixing work. So how can you tell if you need a roof replacement? Watch out for the following warning indicators.

1.Your Roof’s Age is Old

In most cases, roofs have a lifespan of 20-25 years. When the roof approaches its expiry time, you may begin to notice some minor problems e.g a couple of shingles missing, bending, or black patches on the roof’s surface. If your roof’s age is old and you are noticing a few minor problems already, you better have it checked professionally as soon as possible to find out how much longer it will last.

2. You notice black/dark patches On The Roof’s Surface

Darker patches typically occur when granules start to slide off shingles. This is a sign that your shingles are old and outworn and should be changed ASAP. Dark spots may also be a sign of debris and moss accumulation on the surface of your roof, which should also be cleared promptly.

3. You Notice Shingles Missing

This may be a result of a hailstorm attack, or it may be a sign that your roof has passed its peak lifespan. When shingles looser and pop off, the surface is uncovered and this often results in roof leakage.

4. You Are Observing Signs of Water Leakage In Your House/Loft

If you notice some liquid leakage into the various home or loft spots, it’s highly likely that your shingle’s undercover is insufficient or your roof’s flashing has weakened. Mold, debris, and dust can occur from inadequate roof airing and can also cause various health issues and expensive repairing work.

If you notice any water spots on your loft or ceiling, it would be wise to contact a roofing expert as soon as you can to determine the culprit of the issue and repair it.

5. You notice Sand Or Granules Along Your Driveway

If there are gutters in your house, they can reveal any initial roof issues if you know how and which areas to check. In case the roof shingles have deteriorated or past their peak lifespan, they will begin to loosen the granule layer that helps guard your house. These granules can then get into your house’s gutters and ultimately end up in your garden or drive path.

If you notice any granules outside, it’s best to contact a roofing expert right away. When these are missing, your roof’s power to guard your house’s structure will decrease dramatically.

6. Shingles Coming Out/ Revealed Nail Heads

If you see any nails coming off their place, the spots and holes surrounding the nails are exposed to water entering through and this may result in leakage inside the roof. The impairment caused by water may leave you with no other option than to replace your roof much sooner than estimated.

7. Roof Shingles Look Weird

Damaged shingles or shingles that are past the end of their functional life, will begin to bend, break or blister. However, this is tricky to spot from the ground floor of your house. If the shingles are ruined, you may begin to realize that your roof looks strange. Some spots may look much more weirdly textured than others. The roof may even appear pitted from the ground level. In any case, if you notice any of these warning indicators, you should contact an expert roofer immediately.

8. Your Roof Is Wilting

A wilting/droopy roof may indicate various problems: your roof may have lost its strength or got damaged; it may have been set-up poorly, or it might hold up too much burden e.g leaves, snow, ice. etc. In any case, roof drooping is a clear indicator that you need to get a new roof or it may fall apart.

9. There is Flashing Missing

Flashing is installed around the protrusions that link to your roof e.g. your chimney. If the flashing surrounding these connections is shattered or ruined, water can easily penetrate your house.

10. Rise In Temperature Utility Costs

A rise in temperature adjusting bills e.g. heating may cause several roofing problems. Initially, water in your loft coming from a leak can damage your insulation fast. The damaged insulation may result in heat waste during the cold winter season or cool air escaping during the warm summer season. This issue will certainly shoot up your electricity bill if unresolved. Additionally, it may be a sign that your house has air passing through the attic or a damaged and dripping roof that allows improper air circulation.

7 Commercial Roof Maintenance Tips To Extend The Life Of Your Roof

The roof is one of the most vital parts of any housing structure. Because of this, caring for your roof and maintaining it in good condition should be of utmost importance to you because it is one of the best ways to prolong its viability and save you from changing it entirely within a short time. This same thing applies to any building (whether commercial or residential). Therefore, it is essential to possess a dependable, highly skilled roof service company at your fingertips.

Consequently, regarding roof maintenance, what should you put into consideration? We have put together the most relevant precautionary and preservative measures for you to keep close to your heart. All you need to do is keep reading.

1. Avoid Leaks

It’s very risky to have a leaking roof. Prevent your company from suffering from obstructed channels or stagnant water on the roof, which can drip into your company’s loft or ventilator systems. If this occurs, the repair cost may be severe.

Once you have observed a draining spot, ensure you get the services of a renovating team right away. If ignored, the havoc could cause electrical harm, product/material deterioration, or severe damages like a roof collapse. Be nice to yourself. Once you observe water, take the bull by the horn and fix the damage while it is still early.

2. Inspect Your Roof Regularly

Get a reliable expert to inspect your roof annually. Yes, every year! Conducting regular preventive maintenance allows the investigation team to examine and observe possible loopholes and sagging parts.

Patches in the roof that are feeble ultimately result in a collapse. Preventive maintenance, just as its name implies, helps to avoid expensive destruction and substitution. Source for an indigenous commercial roofing merchant that offers repair assessment in their preservation reports to make you financially ready if the most difficult, unpleasant situation occurs.

3. Do Not Walk on Your Roof

Do not walk on your company’s roof except you are an expert. Walking on the top can affect and cause harm to the roof and reduce its longevity.

Most times, it is wise to install walk pads on the roof. These pathways are fixed separately from the main roof’s building, which allows the examiners to move on the top without constraint or fear of causing harm to the roof. Walk pads make it easy for the experts you hire to access your roof efficiently.

4. Only Engage Professional Roof Servicing Companies

It’s essential to have a readily available and experienced roof maintenance company. When searching for a company that can fix and rehabilitate your roof, you need to ensure that they are licensed.

Professional firms give assessments and advice for any impairment present in your roof, consisting of thermal demands for your building, steam flow, and the aeration capacities your company needs.

Experts can provide a comprehensive safety plan, including the requirements to do any urgent work with proper authorization. Both the safety plans and the license safeguard your workers and other contract staff.

5. Tidy Your Roof Always

Regardless of the building, it is essential to tidy up your roof and take off all debris. This includes things like offshoots, leaves, and rocks too. Free materials can obstruct the flow of water, thereby causing blockage and encouraging the growth of algae. All these will increase the rate of damage to the roof. Also critical is your AC units, which should be kept clean and free from debris that may pile up from the wind.

If your roof has just been hit by a strong storm and is presently covered by a lump of leaves, notify your contract staff and have them help you out with a good brush.

A clean roof is a safe roof; hence it is necessary always to keep your roof clean. If possible, always do the cleaning yourself, or supervise the process.

6. Ensure That Your Roof Equipment is in Working Order

Seemingly insignificant things can seriously damage your roof—something as unlikely as a faulty air conditioning unit. While carrying out routine checks on your roof, ensure that you do the same for your heating and cooling devices too. Get the services of an experienced maintenance team to examine and fix any damaged units as required.

Having the orifices closed will eventually be useful for your building. So if you find out the orifices are faulty and broken, get them fixed immediately.

7. During Winter Clear Off Snow

Winter is a fun period, but snow could become problematic when it goes on for a few days. Continuous roof preservation mostly includes the removal of roof snow.

If your company is situated in an environment prone to excessive snowing, you need to set up a scheme for winter snow evacuation. One of the things you wouldn’t want to see after going through an ice-filled road to work is to meet your office space covered in snow.

5 Easy Ways To Stop Gutter Blockage

Do your gutters seem to clog up frequently? That is a common issue that home and commercial property owners have to face and this isn’t something that you should tolerate.

Blocked gutters can result in spilling over water, leakage, and deterioration to the interior and exterior of your property. If left untreated, this could escalate to an ice dam during the winter season.

Keep reading the rest of this report for 5 handy methods to prevent blocked gutters from getting worse:

Make Sure Your Trees Are Trimmed

Trees may look great around your space, but they are not so beneficial for your gutters. Trees that range over or grow very close to your roof and chimney, can produce a lot of fall out e.g. twigs or leaves, especially during fall time. Once they fall, they can get into the gutters and prevent water from flowing freely through. The issue gradually worsens when the leaves are saturated with moisture and produce a thick hurdle.

Use Leaf Guards

For sure, there is a good way to prevent these leaves from sneaking into your gutters. Leaf guards can be used to filter out the leaves and other accumulated dirt before they get into the gutters, letting water pass through. However, it’s best to seek the advice of an expert before you decide to use leaf guards. There are some types that do not work as expected and may even let extra debris and moss develop around the gutters.

Have Your Gutters Cleaned By An Expert

Having your gutters in a clear and immaculate condition yourself is tricky and it’s something we don’t suggest doing without the proper knowledge and training. By using professional gutter cleaning services you will keep your gutters in a tip-top condition minus the fuss. Whether you own a home or a commercial property, professional gutter clearing is a guaranteed way to prevent costly gutter blockages in the long run.

Frequent Checks

Cracks or damage to your gutters can raise the odds of blockage. Even the tiniest crack can accumulate debris and let it pile-up quickly. The fix? Get your gutters professionally checked to make sure they are in good functional condition. A professional inspection will find any problems and solve them before they escalate into something major. It will also detect any problems with your roofing e.g. loose tiles that could also lead to further gutter damage.

Link Better Quality Gutters

Even with precautionary actions, you may realize that gutter blockage is still an issue for you. This could be a sign that your gutters have been installed poorly. Improperly installed gutters can worsen clogging problems, increase the pile-up of dirt and debris in certain spots. If this is the case, considering replacing your old dysfunctional gutter system with a new one. This will cost you but consider it as a great investment as it will save you money and time on repeat fixes in the long-run.