Despite being an essential component of a home, many homeowners tend to ignore their roofs. However, to protect your property from pests, weather, and danger, it’s crucial to maintain this structure in excellent shape.
Whether you’re considering a career in real estate, or a property owner looking for helpful tips, stick around. This article discusses the top 5 roof maintenance tips for your rental home. We’ll also highlight the importance of routine care and reveal valuable tips for choosing a roofing contractor.
5 Roof Maintenance Tips
- Keep the Gutters Clear
One of the best tips to preserve the lifespan of your roof is to keep your gutters clear. Over time, this debris blocks these channels preventing water from flowing correctly. Consequently, water from melted snow or rain could pool on your roof and lead to damage. Thus, it would help to occasionally grab a ladder and ensure your gutters remain clean and clear.
- Replace Broken Shingles
Another valuable tip for homeowners is to replace broken shingles. Wear and tear, weather, and fallen branches can damage your roof, leaving holes in its structure. When your roof’s integrity is compromised, rodents like squirrels, birds, and rats can gain entry to your home. Further, it can leave room for water to seep into your building and cause further damage. Hence, it would help if you made replacing shingles a routine maintenance effort to keep vermin and water out of the house.
- Check the Caulk
Caulk is a waterproof sealant roofer place to fill cracks or gaps in your roof. Unfortunately, it tends to wear away with time. These small holes can let water seep through your roof, causing damage to the house. Caulk often has a whitish finishing. During inspections, you might notice that some layers are thinner than others. Replacing the old caulk is easy because you buy the filler and seal the cracks yourself. Remember to replace the flashing on other parts of the roof, like around the chimney and pipes.
- Remove Leaves and Debris (trim trees)
Leaves and other debris tend to pile on your roof after a while. If left unattended, they can clog your gutters or break your shingles during a storm. Thus, removing these fallouts would be best to protect your property. To minimize fallouts, you should consider trimming the trees around your house. Besides reducing the leaves that fall on your roof, it can help protect rental property from hurricane damage.
- Treat Moss and Algae
Schedule regular treatment for moss and algae to protect your roof’s integrity. Over time these microbes begin to rot on your top, weakening the structure and making it look unappealing. Thankfully, with proactive treatment methods, you can get rid of them quickly.
Importance of Routine Maintenance
- Increases Your Curb Appeal
The exterior of your house is vital in forming a positive first impression during a house viewing. Thus, it’s crucial to consider how your roof looks and its current condition. Regular care can help maintain its appearance and attract prospective tenants to your home. If you’d like to improve your curb appeal, hire a property manager and discuss ways to establish routine maintenance.
- Extends Your Roof’s Lifespan
Routine maintenance adds more value for your money by extending your roof’s lifespan. Prolonged mold issues and cracks can erode your roof, necessitating the need for replacement. Instead of spending thousands of dollars on a new top, regular care can help you push it back. Besides, you can also save more money on emergency issues that come up from poor maintenance.
Tips for Choosing a Contractor
- Ask Around
The first step in choosing a contractor is to ask around. Inquire from your friends, family, and colleagues about their experience with different contractors. This tip is a great place to start because it sheds light on which professionals are top-rated and which to avoid. It can also give you an idea of pricing and some leverage to negotiate a great deal.
- Do Some Research
After asking your friends for help, the next step is to do your research. IT would be best to hire a contractor with an excellent online reputation. Use the internet to widen your prospects and online reviews to narrow your top selections. You’ll get a good idea of each contractor’s strengths and weaknesses if you’re patient enough.
- Check Their Licensing
You can reach out to the contractors when you’ve streamlined your pick to a few selections. Inquire about their licensing or permits to determine if they’re qualified for the job. While you have them on the line, you can ask about their prices and compare different professionals.
Conclusion
Keeping your roof in good condition is crucial to maintaining your property’s safety. Thus, it would help to implement these 5 roof maintenance tips for your rental home. You should find the time to replace broken shingles, clear your gutters, and replace fading caulk. Doing so can improve your curb appeal, attract more tenants, and save you money in the long run. If you need professional help to work on your roof, be sure to ask around, look at ratings and ask for licensing. Although, you can always get connected to the best contractors in your area by consulting an expert property management company.
