It’s March, and the weather is finally starting to look a little warmer. As the snow melts, you’re probably getting ready for that first vigorous spring cleaning, when you clear out the garage, tidy up the basement, clean the windows, and generally just get your home ready for the warmer weather. While interior spring cleaning is important, and something that we all feel better after doing, there’s one part of the home many people forget needs a little bit of spring cleaning attention too: your roof! Harsh winter weather may have left your roof a little worse for wear, and there are a few things you can do to get it all tidied up for the rest of the year. Here’s 5 spring cleaning tips for your roof:

Clear debris

It’s typical for a roof to collect some leaves and pine needles through the fall and winter, but if your roof seems to be housing a lot of debris, it’s time to do some cleaning. The more debris that’s able to pile up on your roof, the easier it is for mold and mildew to grow––both of which are very dangerous to your roof’s health. The easiest way to get extra debris off is to use a leaf blower or rake, but take care not to damage any shingles.

Shingles

Winter winds and snow are hard on shingles. Ice can freeze under shingles, forcing them to curl and separate from the rest of the roof. Sometimes, you’ll notice entire shingles ripped off by the harsh weather. It’s a good idea to give your roof a good once-over after all of the snow has melted, to see if any shingles are missing, ripped, or curled. If you see any problem areas, make sure to get them fixed or nailed back down as soon as possible. Loose shingles expose your roof to the elements, which can cause bigger problems like mold and water damage down the road if they’re not fixed quickly.

Chimney and Flashing

While you’re checking out the shingles on your roof, you’ll want to give your chimney and the flashing around any conjoining parts of your roof a look. Flashing can easily pull away from the roof or chimney, which creates holes that pests and water can invade. While these are typically easy fixes, you have to know the damage is there before you can fix it. If you’re not sure what flashing or chimney damage looks like, it’s a good idea to call a roofing professional who can give your roof a complete once-over for a reasonable price.

Damaging Tree Branches

If any branches fell on your roof over the winter, make sure to get them off as soon as possible. You’ll probably be able to handle smaller branches by yourself, but you might consider calling a professional to take care of the larger ones. The longer they stay on your roof, the more likely they are to puncture holes through shingles, causing water damage and leaks. It’s also a good idea to go around and trim any overhanging tree branches that could pose a problem in the future. If there are any looming over your roof that look like they might crash in the wind, you’ll want to take care of them now that the weather is nice, and before they actually fall.

Wash off Mold and Mildew

As mentioned before, mold and mildew can be very dangerous if they’re allowed to live on your roof. Make sure to check for signs of them this spring: you’ll see discolored streaks on your roof if there’s anything growing. If you do see something that you think is mold or mildew, you can treat the problem with a variety of solutions made to kill the growth. Generally you can pick these products up at your local hardware or roofing store. Just make sure you don’t use any of these solutions with a power washer. They’re far too strong for asphalt roofs and will damage shingles.

 

We hope these tips help you work your roof into your spring cleaning routine! The more often you inspect and take care of your roof, the longer it will last, and the less you’ll have to spend on it over time. If you’d like to have someone come out and inspect your roof for you, give the experts at Werner Roofing a call! We’ll let you know how your roof weathered the winter, and we’ll fix any minor issues as soon as possible. For more information, or to request a free repair estimate, give our office a call at 616-844-5382 or get your free quote online today!

 

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