Although winter might seem like the hardest season for your roof, spring brings its own challenges, especially in Pensacola, FL. During spring, the outside world is buzzing with activity. Trees are blossoming, and the humid, subtropical climate drenches the region in heavy moisture. Countless forms of organic debris are forced into gutters and downspouts, and just about everything that can fit finds its way into the cracks and crevices left by winter roof damage. There are also heavy spring rains, exceedingly strong winds, and other season-specific factors to contend with. To help you prepare, the following are eight maintenance tips for residential roofing.
1. Clean Out Your Gutters and Set a Gutter Cleaning Schedule
Gutter messes in the springtime can be just as prevalent as they are in the fall. Clearing your gutters now will ensure that your roof’s drainage system can effectively route rainwater away from the building during the region’s long rainy season.
Rather than dangling on a ladder and doing the best that you can on your own, hire a professional to clean your gutters for you. Professional gutter cleaning services will leave your gutters and downspouts in pristine condition. These services also give seasoned roofers the chance to identify small drainage problems and resolve them early on. This keeps minor issues from spiraling out of control and resulting in major property damage.
After your gutters have been cleared, set a schedule for monitoring their condition throughout the spring and summer. Check-ins will allow you to identify buildups and blockages in a timely fashion. You can check your gutters monthly, or you can install gutter covers or a gutter cleaning system for a maintenance-free approach.
2. Check for Loose or Missing Shingles
You should be able to spot loose and missing shingles from the curb. Check for shingles that are bent, curled, or that have pulled away from the building. Having these replaced right away will prevent water from impacting their underlayment and eventually making its way down the roofing substrate.
Spring is also a good time to check the condition of your shingles. As these roofing materials near the end of their lifespan, they tend to start losing their granules. If you have one or more fast-spreading dark spots on your roof, this could be a sign of widespread granule loss. Shingle granule loss is a top indication that a roof replacement is in the near future.
3. Schedule Repairs for Winter Leaks
If you had emergency roof tarping services performed during the winter, take care of the underlying problem now. Precipitation in winter is sometimes too heavy to allow for proper roof repairs. However, even when winter weather is fairly dry, cold temperatures and heavy wind can inhibit roof work.
In west-central Florida, rainy season runs from mid-May to mid-October. This gives residents a fairly short window of opportunity to schedule their major roofing projects. Between the months of January and April, you have a solid opportunity to get all of your roof work completed before consistently heavy rains start.
Putting winter repairs off until summer arrives could result in visible water damage at the interior of the building, wood rot at the roofing substrate, and warped or bowed framing materials. Neglecting repairs during the spring can also leave you with discolored or disfigured siding.
4. Schedule Pest Management Services
If you don’t have an ongoing pest management plan in place, spring is definitely the time to set one up. Residential roofs are highly appealing to insects, and small animals that can find their way under the shingles and even into your attic. If you have a few fruiting trees nearby, your roof places pests near a viable and seemingly unlimited source of food, not to mention easy access to your roof.
Neglecting pest management in the spring can result in flourishing populations of ants, mosquitoes, bees, termites, hornets, and more. Pest control companies can find and eliminate nests, points of entry for rodents, reptiles, bats, beehives, and more. They can also establish a solid plan for keeping your roof protected from further infestations. Having an infested roof opens the door to ongoing roof damage as animals and insects can damage roofing features as they build their nests and reproduce.
5. Trim Your Trees
Heavy winds and spring rains can be a recipe for disaster if the trees on your property are not properly maintained. Having your trees professionally trimmed is the best way to prevent dead, diseased, or weak branches from breaking off unexpectedly. These dangerous impact events can knock shingles loose, tear flashing, and create other structural and functional problems. They can also be incredibly dangerous for everyone on the property.
If you have a large, unhealthy, or unstable tree in your yard, spring is a good time to have it taken down. Many tree removal services will both cut trees down and haul off the resulting lumber. Some companies additionally offer stump grinding and stump removal services so that you can safely reclaim your usable outdoor space and avoid fall hazards.
6. Inspect Your Attic
When a roof leak exists, you will likely be able to spot the first signs of moisture damage in your attic. Take a look around this space to check for black mold, dark spots, saturated insulation, bowed boards, and strong mildew smells. If you spot signs of water damage, check the lower-level areas of your home as well. If you spot any issues, contact us for leak repair services so that we can find your leak, fix it, and take measures to prevent it from recurring.
7. Have Your Roof Professionally Inspected
Every roof should be professionally inspected once each year. Scheduling this inspection just before spring will ensure that winter damages haven’t left weak spots or points of entry for spring rain. These appointments also give our team the chance to spot and replace damaged or missing shingles that aren’t visible from the ground. You can pair your roof inspection with gutter cleaning to get your roof ready for spring.
8. Take Care of Essential Roof Replacements
If your roof is nearing the end of its lifespan, spring is an excellent time to take care of an entire roof replacement. You can also reattach or replace gutters that have pulled away from the building, downspouts that have structural damage, or downspouts that are the wrong size. If you’ve had frequent problems with clogged downspouts or pooling water on flat or low-sloped sections of your roof, upgrading downspouts and gutters will get your drainage system ready for heavy precipitation.
We proudly serve the residents of Pensacola, Florida, and the surrounding communities. We’re committed to helping our clients keep their roofs in excellent condition year-round. We offer roof inspection, maintenance, replacement, and repair services. We also provide storm damage repairs. To schedule an appointment, get in touch with Quality Roofing today.
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