When it comes to summer, many of us get flashbacks of summers long since passed where we were young and carefree and could sleep in and lounge around all day without a care in the world, at least, until school started again. Often we didn’t understand why dad was outside climbing a ladder to the roof. What was he doing up there anyway? I can tell you this, it was less about keeping up with the Kardashians and more about keeping up with his summer roof maintenance, making sure that everything was properly taken care of so that during the fall and winter there’d be no unwanted surprises.
Gutters and Downspouts
Summer is the optimal time of year to inspect all the gutters and downspouts because the likelihood of rain is low. After you’ve cleaned out any debris and checked all points of connection, use your garden hose and run some water through them to ensure that everything flows freely and there are no leaks.
Roof
Keeping the roof clear of debris is important year round to ensure the longevity of your shingles. Take the time during the summer to check for any valleys which may have appeared over the winter where leaves and debris are collecting, if these little valleys in your roof get blocked, they could hold water and cause unwanted damage. It’s also the optimal time to inspect and repair and damaged shingles and remove any moss growth.
Flashing
Summer may be hot, but the kind of flashing we’re talking about has nothing to do with removing your clothes. Inspect the flashing around the chimney, skylight, vents and satellite dish – if you own one. Flashing can loosen and weaken over time and it’s important to keep up the maintenance to ensure no leaks during the fall and winter.
Eaves and Openings
From the ground, take the time to inspect not only your roof, but also the underside of your eaves as leaves and debris can often build up there. Be careful when you’re cleaning as they’re often a favourite spot for inspect and birds. And while you’re making your rounds, inspect for any small openings or hole which little critters may use to enter your home. Be sure to block or cover those to ensure home safety for the winter, nobody likes a winter stowaway who enjoys chewing wires.
Cool Roof Coat
A contradiction for sure, but applying a cool roof coat to your roof will keep heat from penetrating the roof and entering the house. This is an easy way to help reduce your energy costs for cooling your home during the summer. The clear coating will not alter the appearance of your roof, and as an added benefit, it’ll also cut down on the war and tear of your shingles due to UV rays.
Taking care of your summer roof maintenance checklist doesn’t have to be a chore. It’s easy enough to do all in one weekend, or you can split up each activity and do one, in less than an hour, over the course of a couple weeks. However, if you’d rather get an expert in then hiring a professional can be a very cost effective alternative to guarantee your roof is in top condition for winter. This will save you money in the long run by making sure that any small issues are taken care of early – after all, as the old saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Contact the experts at Shoreline Roofing today for more information on how we can help repair, maintain, install and your replace your roof with our wide variety of roofing solutions. Call us at (250) 413-7967 or email us at ed@shorelineroofing.ca to find out more!