With summer finally here, it’s the time of year that many homeowners are looking to get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine and all of the various fun and activities that summer brings with it. Unfortunately, with the arrival of summer, we also have the arrival of hurricane season, and all of the tumultuous weather that can bring along with it from time to time. If you are like most homeowners, you want to do everything in your power to make sure that your home is adequately protected from these summer storms, and one of the best places to start is with your home’s roof. Your roof forms the first line of protection your home has against the elements, and as such, it is important to make sure that you give your roof the care and attention it needs to make it through the summer months in one piece. So where do you start when you want to protect your roof from the summer storms? In an effort to help you with this dilemma and help make the process a little bit easier for you, our team of professionals have taken the time to put together this short list detailing a few of our top tips for protecting your home’s roof from anything the weather can throw at it this summer.
Get An Inspection
As you likely know, water is extremely talented about finding its way into your home through any conceivable leak or gap that might exist on the exterior of your home. Sometimes, these gaps or cracks can be difficult to spot, especially if you are trying to spot them from the ground. One of the most important maintenance tasks you can take when it comes to your home’s roof is to make sure that you have a professional come out and provide you with a full roofing inspection. During the course of this inspection, a roofing professional will be on the lookout for any subtle signs that your roof might be experiencing issues, especially leaks, and help you address them right away. While these leaks might not amount to much on their own, they can very easily become a serious problem for your roof and your home overall if a particularly rough storm rolls through the area. Professionals will also be able to spot any of the smaller issues that tend to go unnoticed with a home’s roof and have them repaired before they have a chance to cause any damage to the rest of your home.
Trim Your Foliage
If you have a property with a great deal of overhanging foliage and trees, now is the time to start taking a look at what should stay and what should most likely be trimmed back. While that large oak tree that overhangs your home might look nice and give your home characters, those branches could spell disaster if one were to come down on top of your roof in the middle of a storm. Take the time now to inspect the trees around your home or have a professional do so. During this inspection, you will want to take note of any dead branches that might be a threat to the safety of your home’s roof and trim back any overhanging limbs that could cause damage to your home if they were to come down in the middle of a storm.
Clean Your Gutters
There are many homeowners out there that don’t truly appreciate the important role that gutters serve on your home. While many think that gutters are almost purely for decoration, they actually perform the vital function of directing rainwater down off of your roof and away from the foundation of your home. This helps to relieve the pressure on your roof and make sure that water doesn’t get somewhere it isn’t supposed to be. Now is the time to get up there and make sure that your gutters are clear of any leaves and other debris that might prevent them from functioning like they should. Clogged gutters can cause rainwater to pool on top of your roof, letting it leak in under your shingles or tiles, and cause serious damage to your roof’s structure. Conversely, the added weight from this extra water could actually cause your gutters to tear away from the side of your home, leaving you with a serious mess and serious potential damage on your hands.