Roof upkeep is often disregarded in favor of yard chores and spring cleaning. However, when winter draws to an end, your roof should be at the top of your list of home repair priorities.

Winter weather may do substantial damage to your roof, and if the damage is severe enough, it might compromise structural integrity. If you want your roof to endure through the winter, you must maintain it after that.

Here are seven roof maintenance recommendations to help you get through the winter and prepare your roof for spring.

1. Have Your Roof Evaluated

The first step after the winter is to have a professional roofer inspect your roof for damage. While you can examine your roof, it may have subtle degradation indications that an unskilled eye might overlook. Furthermore, roofs are moist and slick after winter, making roof climbing dangerous. To be safe, have a professional inspect your roof and create a list of all necessary repairs.

2. Check for Interior Signs of Water Damage

Water damage to your roof may be tough to spot from the outside. However, water damage to your interiors may be visible. Check the ceiling for wet stains. These may appear as brown rings. Look for bubbling or peeling paint on your walls as well.

Make repairs as soon as you see any evidence of water damage.

3. Clean Your Gutters

Cleaning your gutters is vital for spring upkeep. During the winter, material may have clogged your gutters, preventing them from draining water. In the spring, you want to avoid too much debris in your gutters.

During the spring rains, clogged gutters allow water to accumulate on your roof or overflow, causing structural damage to your home. You may want to add a gutter guard to prevent future obstructions.

4. Check for Mold and Algae 

The wetness on your roof throughout the winter provides an ideal environment for mold and algae to grow. Mold and algae may harm your roof and endanger your health if not cleaned. If you detect mold or algae on your roof, thoroughly clean it.

5. Trim Your Trees

Overhanging branches, as well as falling leaves and debris, may break and fall on your roof during rainfall. If this happens, your roof might sustain substantial damage. Furthermore, leaves shed on your roof may contain moisture, damaging your roof and triggering mold growth.

6. Replace or Repair Damaged Shingles

Damaged shingles may cause water leaks, and you want to avoid constantly cleaning pools of water off your floor with the spring rains. Water leaks may also cause damage to other parts of your house, such as the ceiling, attic, and walls. Damaged shingles may compromise your roof's protective layer, lowering its insulative properties.

To avoid the aforementioned difficulties, have your roofing specialist repair or replace damaged shingles before spring.

7. Examine Your Fascia Board and Flashing

The fascia is a wooden or metal board that runs down the bottom of your roof, concealing exposed trusses and rafters. On the other hand, flashing is a thin metal material used on roof connections, such as those between the roof, chimneys, and roof valleys.

The flashing and fascia prevent water from entering your house via roof gaps. Thus, if they are damaged, they must be fixed promptly to avoid water seeping into your home.

Preventative roof maintenance is crucial for extending the life of your roof and protecting your property. 

Contact Gold Star Stucco & EIFS Repair / Dayton Stucco right now for post-winter repairs and maintenance services to keep your roof in good shape as spring approaches.