Checklist for Spring Cleaning Your Roof

Checklist for Spring Cleaning Your Roof

Who doesn’t love some spring cleaning? Well, just like the inside of your home, your roof needs spring cleaning too! Our Red Hawk Roofing experts have put together a roof spring cleaning checklist, which is below, in order to guide you on the important steps to take. Before continuing on, please note, If there’s any minor or major damage you see during your roof checklist then it’s best to contact a professional roofing company – if you’re in the Denver area, Red Hawk Roofing – to have a look at your roof and tell you their best opinion. They will be able to lead you in the right direction in deciding if you need to patch, repair, or completely replace your roof.

  • Trim Nearby Branches

It is a good idea when spring rolls around to trim any trees surrounding your roof that have limbs that are casting shadows on your roof. Spring and summer bring a lot of storms and any branches can pose a threat of damage to your roof if they get blown off and fall. Falling branches can cause a lot of damage to your roof and it’s unnecessary damage if you just trim the branches beforehand.

  • Clean Out The Gutters

Some people tend to not clean out their gutters after fall and that means there’s probably a ton of build-up in them. Leaves, sticks, pine needles, and more tend to fall into gutters and don’t always blow out or are able to fall down the downspout. You should clean out the gutters to ensure that rainwater will flow properly through them and down the downspout. It’s better to clean them out than to have buildup and then the overflow of water and debris falling out at random areas on your lawn or even your deck.

  • Clean Off All Roof Debris

If your roof has a lot of debris, such as leaves and branches, then it should be cleaned off as soon as possible. Chances are that after a long rainy or snowy season all that debris has created mold or mildew that is sitting and growing under it. You can easily clean off the debris by either raking it off with your hand or with a leaf blower.

  • Examine Your Roof For Any Loose Shingles

A long winter with harsh snow and ice storms can cause great damage to your roof. Ice and snow can deteriorate shingles and gutters during a long harsh winter. The shingles can deteriorate by either separating, curling, or just simply being blown off. Gutters face the same issues if there are a lot of backups of ice and snow that are not addressed. When the spring months start to roll around, it is good to get a look at your roof as soon as possible to address any loose or damaged shingles. If you’re able to address any loose shingles yourself, such as nailing them back into place or fixing them, that’s great, but if not then it’s best to contact a local roofing company to address the issue.

  • Check the Attic

Check your attic and ceiling for any signs of water damage or mold. Any mold in your attic is usually caused by a ventilation or insulation problem, if there was/is no roof leaking. If you see any type of staining or smell mildew then it is best to call a professional immediately. A professional roofer can easily pinpoint the problem and quickly repair what needs to be fixed before larger problems can occur.

  • Wash Off Mildew and Mold

If debris caused any mildew or mold on your roof it is best to clean it up as best as you can and then contact a professional. Signs of mildew and mold will be discolored streaks on your roof and that will indicate any signs of growth. Mold and mildew can be detrimental to your roof and your own personal health. The professionals will be able to tell you the extent of damage and if there are worse issues lying underneath.

  • Flashing and Chimney

You will need to examine your chimney, if you have one, to see if there is any flashing around it. Flashing is a thin metal material that is installed around the chimney to direct water away from it. This flashing material can easily pull off or away from your chimney or roof. If this occurs it can create small holes that can allow water and bugs to get into your home or roof. This is a smaller fix, but if there is damage that you can’t see prior to recovering it then that could cause more damage. You can also get this easily looked at to see if there’s any damage the eye can’t see.

  • Fix Any Damage

All of the above issues such as debris, tree branches, harsh winters and winds, mold, and mildew, can all cause serious damage to your roof. It is best to get everything above done before figuring out what damage needs to be fixed and the extent of the damage. By taking this approach, you can know if you need to call in a professional roofing company, such as Red Hawk Roofing, or if they are fixes you can manage by yourself. Either way, you should fix any damage immediately so that there is no more damage done to your roof.

There you have it – a roof spring cleaning checklist. Although we tend to focus on the interior of our homes and the landscaping in the spring, it is best not to neglect your roof. With being one of the big-ticket items of your home, ensuring your roof is in tip-top shape at all times is of the utmost importance. If you’re following the above checklist and come across any unforeseen roof issues, contact Red Hawk Roofing for a consultation.

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