Common Mistakes People Make Regarding Their Roof
July 18, 2018
Your roof is one of a buildings more important structural features. In terms of protection from the elements, having a roof that effectively keeps out weather is a crucial factor in maintaining the value of your building. As a result, taking actions that will be harmful or detrimental to the long term health of your roof should be avoided at all costs. Unfortunately, many people simply are not aware of the things that cause harm to their roofs, which is why it is important to stay informed about such matters. With that in mind, here are a few of the most common mistakes people make in regards to their roof in Denver.
Problems can arise when you are on your roof consistently simply because you happen to enjoy the view or like the act of climbing around an elevated structure. In addition to the potential harm an individual might incur from slipping and falling off of their roof, it’s also critical to consider the fact that this action may also be harmful to your structure. Walking over the surface of shingles can actually dislodge them and wear down the coating which is designed to prevent leaks. If shingles become dislodged they are much more likely to be prone to leak, which can lead to further structural damage within your property. Unless you absolutely need to be walking on your roof you should avoid this activity at all costs.
This is not a good idea. Pressure washing your shingles may reduce the amount of dirt and other gunk buildup on your roof, but it will also likely blast away asphalt roofing granules that are specifically designed to prevent leaks from occurring. This will increase the chances that you will deal with leaks in the future, which is certainly not worth the superficial benefits you may receive by having a less dirty roof.
If you feel your roof absolutely needs to be cleaned, it is a great idea to contact your professional roofer to learn what options are available to make your existing roof look cleaner without damaging it in the process. It is generally recommended that, unless you cannot deal with the current condition of how your roof appears, you should not clean the surface of your roof.
The importance of cleaning gutters should not be overlooked for this reason, as you’ll want to maintain the longevity of the health of your roof at all costs. Make it a priority to regularly clean out your gutters, which will ensure the health of your roof and will prevent potential damage from occurring. This is especially true during the fall and early winter months, as leaves from nearby trees will be falling and likely lead to clogged gutters if you are diligent in removing debris.
In Colorado, intense thunderstorms as well as late-spring ice storms can do serious damages to trees,which can then lead to intense damage to your roof. In addition to serious structural damage that can occur during a storm, branches and other tree-related debris can damage your home if it stays on the surface of your roof for an extended period of time. If piles of leaves that have blown onto the surface of your roof are left unattended, the chances of mold and dirt buildup developing increase substantially. This will also lead to the possibility that moisture will seep underneath your shingles, leading to significant damage of the roof. Stay proactive in trimming your trees as a way to reduce the chances of incurring roof damage.
If you are in need of roofing services for your home or office, The Roof Dr. has you covered. We offer both residential and commercial roofing options for whatever your situation may be. We are a Colorado owned and operated business, and have been building roofs in the Denver metro area since 1971. Our team of qualified and experienced professionals are there to ensure the job is done as efficiently and affordably as possible. If you are need of a roofing repair or replacement, or you simply have questions about our services, contact us today!
Go Back Excessively Walking on Your Roof
Look, there are going to be times when you need to be on your roof. Perhaps you are in the process of examining your roof for potential damage incurred during a particularly harsh storm or maybe you need to fix something or get a close up look of a leak. It’s understandably and ok to be on your roof for important matters, especially when you are engaged in an activity that is meant to secure or prolong the life of your roof.Problems can arise when you are on your roof consistently simply because you happen to enjoy the view or like the act of climbing around an elevated structure. In addition to the potential harm an individual might incur from slipping and falling off of their roof, it’s also critical to consider the fact that this action may also be harmful to your structure. Walking over the surface of shingles can actually dislodge them and wear down the coating which is designed to prevent leaks. If shingles become dislodged they are much more likely to be prone to leak, which can lead to further structural damage within your property. Unless you absolutely need to be walking on your roof you should avoid this activity at all costs.
Pressure Washing Your Roof
The idea of having a perfectly clean roof can be an appealing concept for many home and business owners. The sight of a dirty or dilapidated roof is certainly an undesirable appearance to have to be confronted with on a daily basis, and it can be tempting to take a power washer to the surface of your roof to blast out all of the dirt and gunk that has built up over time.This is not a good idea. Pressure washing your shingles may reduce the amount of dirt and other gunk buildup on your roof, but it will also likely blast away asphalt roofing granules that are specifically designed to prevent leaks from occurring. This will increase the chances that you will deal with leaks in the future, which is certainly not worth the superficial benefits you may receive by having a less dirty roof.
If you feel your roof absolutely needs to be cleaned, it is a great idea to contact your professional roofer to learn what options are available to make your existing roof look cleaner without damaging it in the process. It is generally recommended that, unless you cannot deal with the current condition of how your roof appears, you should not clean the surface of your roof.
Leaving Gutters Uncleaned
Gutters have a specific purpose, which is to prevent water from building up on the surface of your roof and getting it to the ground as soon as possible. Water that pools on the surface of your roof can do damage in a number of ways, including aiding in the growth of mold and potentially leading to leaks that will eventually get worse as time goes on.The importance of cleaning gutters should not be overlooked for this reason, as you’ll want to maintain the longevity of the health of your roof at all costs. Make it a priority to regularly clean out your gutters, which will ensure the health of your roof and will prevent potential damage from occurring. This is especially true during the fall and early winter months, as leaves from nearby trees will be falling and likely lead to clogged gutters if you are diligent in removing debris.
Neglecting Trimming Nearby Trees
One of the biggest ways that a roof can get damaged is by a particularly intense storm. Damage that is incurred in the event of a storm is done a number of different ways, but one of the biggest reasons a storm can damage your roof is due to a nearby tree having it’s branches break and land onto the surface of your roof. While not all storm damage can necessarily be prevented, the likelihood that a tree will damage your home will greatly increase if you aren’t proactive in trimming your trees.In Colorado, intense thunderstorms as well as late-spring ice storms can do serious damages to trees,which can then lead to intense damage to your roof. In addition to serious structural damage that can occur during a storm, branches and other tree-related debris can damage your home if it stays on the surface of your roof for an extended period of time. If piles of leaves that have blown onto the surface of your roof are left unattended, the chances of mold and dirt buildup developing increase substantially. This will also lead to the possibility that moisture will seep underneath your shingles, leading to significant damage of the roof. Stay proactive in trimming your trees as a way to reduce the chances of incurring roof damage.
If you are in need of roofing services for your home or office, The Roof Dr. has you covered. We offer both residential and commercial roofing options for whatever your situation may be. We are a Colorado owned and operated business, and have been building roofs in the Denver metro area since 1971. Our team of qualified and experienced professionals are there to ensure the job is done as efficiently and affordably as possible. If you are need of a roofing repair or replacement, or you simply have questions about our services, contact us today!