It goes without saying that the roof over our heads is something we often take for granted. Your roof may be out of sight and therefore out of mind, however that doesn’t mean you roof isn’t subject to wear and tear just like other parts of your house! After all, it’s keeping the elements out. In order to protect your home and your family, we have put together some top tips for keeping your roof in great condition and avoiding any potential disasters!

1. Keep Gutters Clean

Your gutters should be regularly inspected, particularly around Spring time or Autumn. If your gutter gets clogged up with debris, it can prevent water flowing through the gutters and down the downspouts. This could result in water soaking into the roof instead and rotting parts of it. This rot can be a real headache causing extensive damage to the foundations of the house and can often end up costing thousands to fix it.

2. Do Regular Inspections

It might slip our minds, however a lot of damage that occurs on roofs is visible from the outside. Therefore, its important to schedule in some time to walk around your house and visually inspect the pats of your roof that you can see. If some parts aren’t visible, never consider walking on the roof or accessing. Instead, use a reliable ladder and inspect your roof from there. If none of these options are possible for you, don’t worry! You can always contract the help of a roofing maintenance professional.

3. Check for Moss, Fungus or Algae

While inspecting your roof seasonally is important, it’s as important to know what potential damage on your roof looks like. For example, black algae isn’t very aesthetically pleasing on your roof, but it doesn’t harm it. However, if you spot moss growing on your roof this is a problem as moss develops because of moisture and holds water. Catching moss early is the important thing. If its caught early it can be easily swept off, but if it takes hold it will need to be killed off using chemicals. This can be done yourself or with the help of a roofing maintenance professional. If you don’t know what harmful moss, fungus or algae to be looking for, there is some comprehensive information available here to help you get up to speed: https://www.oaks-construction.com/contractors-corner/how-fungus-can-damage-your-roof/.

4. Check for Structural Damage

Checking for structural damage means checking for missing shingles and tiles. However, there is often structural damage on a roof that isn’t as visible or obvious. If you see dark patches or lines it likely has resulted from some sort of damage. Curling, cupped or chipped tiles and shingles can also be a sign of possible damage or potential future damage. As a whole, if your appears to be uneven in colour or spotty it could be an indication that your roof is getting old and it may need replacing. 

5. Inspect the Inside of Your House

It might not seem obvious, however serious roof damage can often be seen from inside first! If you spot browning, bubbling or blistering of paint on ceilings this can be an indication of water damage coming from a leaky roof. Your fireplace can also show signs of dampness if this is occurring so be sure to be vigilant. If you have a loft or attic that is easily accessible, you can spot potential roof damage up there if there is sunlight coming though any worn or broken shingles. Also inspect for signs of damp in an attic, as this can be caused by heavy rainfall coming through a damaged roof. 

6. Trim Branches

If your house is surrounded by tall trees, the branches of these trees can significantly damage your roof on a windy day when hitting off the tiles. They can also be a cause for rodents or birds accessing your roof and causing damage through gnawing shingles or nesting. To stop this from happening, a good idea is to keep a 10-foot clearing between the ends of the branches and your roof if possible. Having trees around your house is lovely, however keep on top of them and your roof won’t suffer!

As outlined, roof damage can be a huge inconvenience and a very costly process to rectify. While you can take every precaution and do everything in your power to mitigate risk, sometimes accidents still do happen and roof damage can occur! Not to worry. In the event of roof damage its vital to cover yourself and have the appropriate home insurance in place. That’s where we at insuremyhouse.ie can help. For more information on our house insurance policies and the protection options available, visit https://insuremyhouse.ie/homeowners-insurance.