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ROOF MAINTENANCE GUIDE: Everything Hudson County Homeowners Need To Know
What Is Roof Maintenance?
“Roof maintenance is the periodical checking of all the vulnerable areas on a roof that could be susceptible to having a problem. Depending on the type of roof, whether it be residential or commercial, it will be annual, biannual, or quarterly maintenance.” Just as you would regularly perform maintenance on your car, maintenance on your roof is just as important! We would like to stress the importance of receiving annual or semiannual roof maintenance as it can help your roofing contractor catch any minor problems that need to be addressed before turning into a costly repair.
What Does Roof Maintenance Include?
Gutter Cleaning
Although generally recommended to do twice a year regardless if you have roof maintenance, your annual or semiannual Roof Maintenance will include Gutter Cleaning. For this, we make sure your gutters are cleared of any debris or leaves to ensure that your gutters are properly draining rainwater. Not only do having cleaned gutters protect your roof from pooling water but can help extend the longevity of your gutters, as well!
Debris Removal
Just as we would do for your gutters, we also clear any debris that can be found on your roof! This may include tree branches, leaves, and/or any accumulated dirt that can affect the drainage of your roof. Debris can also cause excessive unnecessary weight to sit on your roof which can overall affect your roof's lifespan.
General Inspection
When receiving roof maintenance, your roofing contractor will perform a general roof inspection to ensure there is no visible damage. Common types of damage include cracks or general wear on your roof's pipe boots, loose or missing caulking, loose fascia, etc., which tend to happen due to harsh weather and overall aging. A general inspection will help both yourself and your roofer make sure your roof is in its best condition and catch any minor issues that need to be addressed.
Minor Repairs
In the event that your roofing contractor happens to find a minor issue, your roofing contractor will more than often have the necessary tools and/or materials to fix it right then and there. For instance, certain flat roofs have a protective reflective layer that we call Silver Coat; if your roofer feels it's necessary they may add a thin layer to ensure it has the proper sealing ability. Other types of minor repairs can be to re-flash pipe boots or adding a new layer of tar or roofing cement where it is necessary.
Estimate for Repairs
Although uncommon if you already get annual or semiannual roof maintenance, there is a possibility that over time something has been damaged that is outside of the warranty. In this case, a tree that has fallen in a storm and created an opening in your roof would not be under a roof maintenance warranty. During your roof maintenance, if your roofing contractor finds a new problem that wasn’t created due to any work they’ve previously performed, they will inform you of the damage and provide a cost for repair which will be scheduled for a later date.
Will Having Annual/Semiannual Roof Maintenance Help My Roof?
Here at Elite Roofing, we like to compare our Roof Maintenance to an annual doctor's visit. Although nothing may seem to be an issue, underlying/minor issues on your roof can very easily turn into costly repairs or replacements that could have easily and quickly been addressed during the maintenance. In order to protect such a big investment, we urge you as a homeowner to schedule roof maintenance at least once a year in order to extend the overall longevity of the roof which in turn protects the integrity of your home and its foundation.
What You Can Do As A Homeowner In Between Roof Maintenances To Protect Your Roof:
Clear Out Your Roofs Drainage Systems
Internal Drains:
If you live in Jersey City or the surrounding areas, you may have a flat roof. Most drainage systems for a flat roof run along the edges of your roof, or you may have something called internal drains. Although commonly found on commercial buildings and/or extremely large flat roofing systems, many residential properties that have flat roofs in Hudson County feature this type of drainage system, as well. Internal or inner drains are used to keep sitting water away from the walls and foundations of your home. Often placed directly in the middle of the roof, these drains feature attached pipes that redirect rainwater down into the roof of your building and outside to keep sitting water at bay. Most times, internal or inner drains have a strainer to catch large debris that must be cleaned out regularly to avoid leaks. If you have an accessible flat roof, clearing out leaves and other debris from your internal/inner drains is an easy task that can help to avoid unnecessary pooling water that can eventually cause leaks.
Scupper Boxes:
Another common type of drainage system found on many flat roofs are scupper boxes. Scupper Boxes are custom-fabricated drainage tubes that are used to redirect rainwater into a pipe and down through the side of a building. Scupper Boxes act as an alternative and additional drain which allows excess rainwater to drain properly, avoiding the possibility of water to sit or penetrate into your roofing system. Unlike internal/inner drains, scupper boxes do not require a strainer as most openings for a scupper box are large enough to clear out any debris or leaves that the traveling rainwater may collect. If your home uses scupper boxes as a way to drain rainwater off of your roof, most times you do not need to worry about clearing these out, but it is still important to make sure the internal/inner drains are cleared, as well.
Gutters:
On the other hand, if you have a shingled roof, you most likely have gutters attached to the sides of your roof. Gutters, also known as conductor pipes, are “a shallow trough that is placed beneath the edge of the roof to carry excess water away from the building.” The most common types of gutters are usually made out of aluminum, vinyl, or galvanized steel; although your contractor may recommend a specific type of gutter, this option is up to the homeowner. It is important to note that, unlike internal/inner drains and scupper boxes, gutters often need to be regularly cleaned out as debris, leaves, and other greenery tend to build up quickly. In order to reduce the number of times your gutters need to be cleared out, certain options such as gutter guards are available that block debris from entering and clogging your gutters.
We highly recommend getting your gutters cleaned out at least twice a year, once in the Fall to clear leaves that may have fallen, and once in the Spring. Although this may seem like an easy task, it is extremely important to ensure that if you, the homeowner, decide to do this on your own, you have the proper safety equipment to do so. When it comes to clearing out the gutters on your shingled roof, we highly recommend that you contact a roofing contractor to do so in order to avoid any hazards such as falling off of the ladder. If you feel that you need assistance with this task, feel free to contact your local roofing professionals! If you’re located in Hudson County, you can call us at (201)436-1011 to schedule your roof maintenance, today!
We're Shining Bright in Bayonne, NJ With Our Karnak 298 Aluminum-R SBS Roof Maintenance!
Remove Leaves and Debris From Your Roof
Just as you would clear your gutters of any leaves or debris, it is important to also clear off your roof, especially if you have a flat roof. If you do happen to have a flat roof with roof access through either a hatch, fire escape, etc., clearing off your roof of any leaves or debris can be an easy task for you, the homeowner, to complete. Debris may include tree branches, leaves, and/or any accumulated dirt that can affect the drainage of your roof. Leaves and debris can also cause excessive unnecessary weight to sit on your roof which can overall affect your roof's lifespan. On the other hand, if you own a home with a shingle roof, this may be a task that is a bit more difficult to do as you would need to access the roof with a ladder. Again, the same as clearing out your gutters, we urge you to practice extreme safety while doing so. Only if you are comfortable and confident being on a ladder should you attempt to clear your shingle roof or gutters of any debris. If you find that your roof does have an excess amount of debris and you cannot easily access it, be sure to contact us to let us help you out with this task!
Clear Overhanging Greenery
Although it is extremely important to clear your gutters and roof of any leaves or debris, it is also important to make sure that there are no overhanging tree branches or other forms of greenery over your roof. Clearing overhanging greenery is a simple task that you, the homeowner, can do yourself if you have the necessary tools. As the temperature starts to shift, any remaining leaves or branches left hanging over your home will eventually fall or break off as well, thus causing your freshly cleared gutters to refill again. In order to protect your gutters after they’ve been cleared, certain roofing contractors may recommend Gutter Guards, which are thin metal mesh coverings that sit over your gutters to catch any larger debris (leaves, twigs, etc.) Although Gutter Guards can help avoid larger debris to enter and remain in your gutters, we’d like to note that smaller debris and dirt can easily sift through causing dirt accumulation and eventually causing that dirt to “cake up”. If you find this to be a hard task to do on your own, be sure to contact a roofing contractor for help!
Inspect Your Attic Space
One of the easier tasks to do in order to avoid costly repairs includes inspecting your attic space for any signs of leaks or water damage. By doing so, you may be able to spot an oncoming leak before it fully penetrates your home. Some signs that your attic space may have that can indicate that there is or was a leak can be:
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Mold
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Lack of ventilation
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Clogs in intake vents
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Soaked insulation (even when it hasn't rained recently)
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Algae stains on plywood
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Black rings or rust around nails
If you see any of the signs stated above, it is important to get in contact with a roofing contractor (even if you do not have an active leak) as these can be signs of a significant leak later on, or soon-to-be increased damage.
Inspect Your Roofs’ Shingles
Another simple task that you as a homeowner can easily complete is to conduct a visual check of the condition of your shingles. Depending on the weather and temperature conditions of your area, your shingles may erode or become damaged quicker in areas of high wind, snow, rain, and even high sun exposure. Some signs that indicate that the shingles of your roof are damaged are that the shingles are cracked or curling, and/or that there are mineral granules/buildup in your gutters. Other signs include obvious discoloration, missing shingles, or visible damage from excessive wear and tear. If you find that your shingles are missing, out of place, damaged, or just have general wear and tear, we recommend contacting a local roofing professional as soon as possible to avoid any further damage to your roof.
Have A Trusted Roofing Expert Perform Your Roof Maintenance and Repairs
Lastly, we always recommend and urge homeowners to not only perform DIY roof maintenance but to also get annual or semi-annual (depending on the conditions of your area) roof maintenance performed by a local and trusted roofing contractor. If you’d like to learn what annual or semi-annual roof maintenance includes, be sure to check out our blog, What Is Roof Maintenance & What Does It Include?, using the link below!
https://www.eliteroofingincnj.com/post/what-is-roof-maintenance-what-does-it-include
By performing these quick and simple tasks in between your annual or semi-annual roof maintenance, you are actively preventing and avoiding any need for roof repairs. If you see something off with your roof or notice any small leaks, it is important to contact a roofing professional as soon as possible to prevent small repairs from turning into significant issues.
What To Do If You Need to Schedule Roof Maintenance
Still searching for roof maintenance near me, Jersey City roof maintenance, Hoboken roof maintenance, or simply what is roof maintenance?, look no further, Elite Roofing is here to help all of Hudson County! Be sure to contact us here at Elite Roofing, Hudson County, NJ's Top Rated Roofing Professionals for your next roof maintenance! We currently service:
Here at Elite, we want your roof to last as long as possible; if you are in need of annual or semi-annual roof maintenance, be sure to contact us, Hudson County’s top-rated roofing contractor today to schedule your next roof maintenance! You can reach us by calling our office at (201)436-1011, emailing us at eliteroofinginc@hotmail.com, or filling out our form on our Contact Page on our website.
If you’d like to learn more about our Roof Maintenance Tip for Homeowners, be sure to check out our blog using this link! https://www.eliteroofingincnj.com/post/roof-maintenance-tips-for-homeowners-that-can-prevent-expensive-leak-repairs
If you'd like to learn the more about Roof Maintenance and What It Includes, be sure to check out our blog using this link! https://www.eliteroofingincnj.com/post/what-is-roof-maintenance-what-does-it-include
What Our Customers Say About Our Roof Inspections:
"Great company. They were professional in every way, followed up after the work, always responsive when I needed them. I recommend Elite Roofing without any reservations. Use them; you won' regret it" -David B. of Bayonne, NJ (5-Star Google Review)
"I deal with a lot of contractors through my job and Al and his crew definitely impressed me. They were responsive, took pride in their work and cleaned up after themselves. This company really goes above and beyond and I can’t recommend them highly enough! Thank you guys!" -Rachel W. of Jersey City, NJ (5-Star Google Review)
"As usual, Elite Roofing did a GREAT job. I have worked with them for years and they always do great work and never disappoint." -Todd L. of Manhattan, NY (5- Star Google Review)
"We’ve used Elite for many years. Their quality and professionalism has always been top notch. Al and the staff at Elite have always been there when we needed them regardless of the size of the job. Highly recommended! Thanks guys!" -Neil B. of Jersey City, NJ (5-Star Google Review)