“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” is a saying that remains true. Roofing is a good case in point.
We must mention upfront never to go on your roof if you are unsure of your safety. If you cannot safely access your roof, it’s best to have trained professionals handle it for you. That said, some people prefer a DIY approach to home maintenance.
One of the most preventable problems we encounter with roofing is damage from trees, vines, or shrubs. Keep tree branches or bushes at least six to ten feet away from your roof at all times, and do not allow vines to grow onto or over your roof. A certified arborist can offer advice or find articles online about how to prune a tree correctly. For example, pruning too much off a tree at once can send it into shock. Ensure you’re either doing it correctly or seek help to do so.
Related to this is vegetation falling onto a roof and accumulating, such as leaves, branches, pine needles, or seeds. Debris can trap water and even cause chemical reactions that prematurely break down your roofing material. It can clog up gutters and downspouts, causing water to back up and create leaks, even if the roof itself appears fine. On a flat roof, it can block drains, allowing water to force its way between metal and stucco or seep through stucco over time. Ensure debris and trash do not accumulate on your roof, and that drain screens are in place. Note well: this can be tricky on tile roofs, so if you’re unsure how to walk on a tile roof to clean debris off it, hire a trained roofer to do it for you. Incorrectly walking on tile roofing can cause expensive damage if you’re not experienced.
J&J Roofing offers a roof check-up service for $155.00. This includes an inspection of the roofing system and simple maintenance based on our findings. Generally, this takes roughly one hour on-site for inspection and work. We’ve conducted thousands of these over the years, and I can confidently say that customers who utilize this service spend 50% or more less on roofing issues alone than if they wait until they have to react to a leak. The roof check-up service does not entail a re-roof, so there is no guarantee, but just as you wouldn’t skip having a mechanic check your car’s basics during an oil change, you should have your roof periodically inspected. We do not recommend this for people who have recently had a re-roof done by us, as the roof should remain in good condition for a long time, aside from keeping debris off it. However, as the roof ages, whenever you feel the need for the peace of mind that a check-up can provide, give us a call at (323) 913-4190, and we’ll get you set up.
Stay safe, and as always, let us know if there’s anything we can do to help.
