As homeowners, we have tons of chores and checks to perform each year. Your roof is one area you do not want to overlook. The cost of repairing damage from storms, the sun, ice, and hail can be expensive. To avoid these costly repairs later down the road, it is important that you take action now to keep the damage from happening. Here are four ways to prevent premature roof problems because of ultraviolet rays and sun exposure.
Get a yearly maintenance check
The experts cannot tell people enough to make sure to schedule an annual roof inspection. Because this part of the home is so expensive to replace, it is much easier and cost-effective to maintain the roof. Your roofing specialist can look for signs of abnormal wear, pest intrusion, overheating, and ice damage to help you know what repairs are necessary. They will also tell you when your shingles need to be replaced and any other areas that you need to keep an eye on for normal wear and tear.
Add a UV protector
Your local residential roofing contractor can apply a UV coating to your existing roof to help. This application will bounce ultraviolet rays away from your roof. The surface will stay much cooler. The shingles will curl less, and last longer. This barrier will prevent water penetration keeping leaks at a minimum. Additionally, a UV coating can help to keep your house from getting too hot in the warmer summer months.
Clean the roof often
When the roof gets hot, the shingles become pliable and easier to bend and will be prone to changing shape. If a tree branch or storm debris hits the hot roof, then it may put a hole in the shingle, crack the material, or cause a curl that allows a driving rain to penetrate the sheeting. To prevent these issues, remove any debris to stop the wind from pushing materials into the shingles when they are hot. Make sure you trim tree branches that hang over your roof and pose a threat.
Budget money for routine repairs
Another exceptional way to prevent sun damage from costing you thousands of dollars in repairs is to fix small problems early. For example, if the roofing specialist tells you the shingles are curling up from excessive heat one summer, then replace them before the roof starts leaking. By staying ahead of the problems you can anticipate, you remove emergency issues and extensive damage. Replace worn or broken shingles as soon as you find them instead of waiting until the end of the season. It’s much cheaper and easier to replace a few shingles at a time as they break than it is to wait and replace the whole roof at once.
By replacing worn items fast, you keep the integrity of the roof stronger. The sun can do a lot of damage in hot, arid climates. Keeping the roof cool will help lower energy costs, and it will make it more comfortable year-round. By fixing small things before they can get big, you save yourself money in the long run.
