Our roofs are an important part of our homes. They provide us protection against all exterior elements such as snow, rain, wind, and extreme wind. However, it’s easy to forget about our roofs, and it’s easy to forget about the maintenance services they need until it’s too late. After all, out of sight, out of mind!
It goes without saying that failure to maintain your roof can lead to other major issues. It can, for instance, void your home warranties, cut its lifespan significantly, and compromise your entire building structure.
Remember, as a landlord, it’s your responsibility to ensure your tenant lives in a safe and habitable property, warns AvalonPropertyManagement.net. And among other things, this means ensuring that your tenants have a sound roof over their heads.
Many things often lead to roof deterioration. Some of them include:
- Improper installation: An improperly installed roof will quickly run into issues that will dramatically shorten its lifespan. That’s why it’s extremely important to hire a professional and experienced roofing specialist.
- High winds and storms: Strong winds can create stress points on your roof that, with time, can severely weaken it. Also, hail storms, wind storms, thunderstorms, and even tornadoes can all cause damage to your roof.
- Water damage: There are a lot of ways in which rain can damage your roof. The water can appear in various forms, such as snow, leaks, and pooling water.
- Aging shingles: This is also one of the top reasons why roofs fail. Asphalt shingles deteriorate with time. And when they eventually do, if not replaced, they can seriously cut into the life of your roof.
With that in mind, now let’s take a look at some of the things you can do as a landlord to maintain your roof.
1. Inspect your roof regularly.
Regular maintenance and checkups will help ensure your roof remains in good condition for as long as possible. And you should aim to do so at least twice each year. This is at least according to some experts.
When inspecting your roof, pay attention to things such as:
- Missing or lifting shingles
- Missing, loose or buckling flashing
- Exposed or missing fasteners
- Broken or sagging gutters
- Piles of granules
- Plant growths
By doing so, you will be able to catch issues early before they become serious and potentially costly to fix.
2. Clean the gutters.
Your gutters are just as important as your roof. Essentially, roof gutters help protect the exterior and roof of a home from water damage, mold, and erosion.
When obstructed, roof gutters can cause a myriad of issues. Over time, they can cause damage to your home’s foundation, siding, landscape, and the roof itself.
Thankfully, cleaning gutters is a relatively easy job. You will basically only need a ladder and a plastic scoop. Once you have these, climb up the ladder and, with the plastic scoop, shovel out leaves and other debris that may have accumulated there.
Just make sure not to lean or bend to reach either side as you may risk losing your balance.
3. Trim the trees.
If you are not paying attention, trees can cause a lot of damage to your home and roof. Trees can cause damage to your roof in various ways. They include falling limbs, clogged gutters, leaves and overhanging branches.
So, if you have a tree that’s close to your home, consider trimming it. Ideally, you want to hire an arborist for the job as they are skilled in that specific area. According to HomeGuide.com, the average tree trimming service will usually cost you about $80 and $350.
4. Look for moss and algae.
Moss and algae can severely damage the structural integrity of your roof. Moss and algae usually grow in shaded areas that have been exposed to damp, cool weather.
These growths are not only an eyesore, but can also cause severe roof damage over time. Luckily, removing moss and algae doesn’t require any professional skills. You can do it yourself with the use of water and scrub brush or a stiff brush on a pole.
5. Re-caulk, if necessary.
Over time, flashings lose their seal especially if low-grade caulking was used during the installation of your roof.
Roof flashing helps direct the flow of water around openings. Without flashing, water may seep into your property causing serious structural damage. One common sign of damaged flashing is water spots on the ceiling. So, if you spot them, inspect your roof immediately and re-caulk if necessary.
6. Check the roof insulation.
A roof’s insulation helps keep hot air in and cold air out of your property. Common causes of roof leaks include improper roof installation. So, if your tenant is complaining of high energy bills, consider checking the insulation of their roof.
Property maintenance is key to running a successful rental investment. As such, regularly inspect your roof for damage to avoid costly repair issues or even a need for an entire roof replacement.
