McHenry Roofing

The Basics of Roof Restoration

Food, clothing, and shelter are our three primary needs. While your home is where you live, it is your roof that provides shelter. Protecting your belongings and your family requires that your roof is in good condition year round. However, as with any aspect of your home even the most assiduous homeowner who plans regular inspections and maintenance will eventually need to repair or restore their roof. As the most important structure in your house, your roof shields you from harsh weather and insulates your home from the hot and cold. The basics of roof restoration include perennial maintenance and inspections, cleaning, and repairs or restoration.

Inspect and Maintain

The best way to protect your roof is to maintain it. Preventative measures prevent the need for major restoration or roof replacement. This should include checking and clearing your gutters to prevent water build up, inspecting roof fixtures to make sure there is no damage as a potential source of leaks, and ensuring roofing structures are up to snuff. Professional roof inspections are highly recommended as only a qualified roofer will have the skills and experience to detect problems before they begin.

Cleaning

As with your gutters, your roof should be clear of debris. Especially if there are many tall trees around your home, the collection of leaves and branches on your roof can pose a significant risk to the structural quality of your roof. As organic debris begins to decay, moisture collects and your roofing structures may also begin to rot. Most experts recommend that you clean your roof at least twice a year to maintain its optimal lifespan. Likewise, the buildup of moss, mold, and mildew can also have a deleterious effect on your roof, so you should contact a professional to thoroughly clean your roof.

Restoration

As mentioned, even the most careful homeowner will need to have repairs done on their roof from time to time. A dilapidated roof is a greater risk to the health and wellbeing of your family than you might expect. Minor leaks can develop quickly into a more major problem, which is why regular inspections are important. Yet, these inspections often turn up evidence of damage or decay in your roof, so you'll want your roofer to make the necessary repairs.

Keep in mind that roofing restoration can be a major project, particularly with aging roofs. You should aim to schedule your roofing inspections in late summer or early fall to allow for plenty of time to make necessary repairs. In some cases, roofing work may take several sessions, and you don't want your home and belongings exposed to harsh winter weather if you can avoid it. Finally, you should also make sure to adequately budget for major roofing repairs. Roofing restoration can be a very expensive endeavor, so it's recommended that you put away a little money every year so you can afford more major repairs when the need arises.