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Performing regular roof maintenance is important to prevent severe damage to your home.

By performing roof maintenance, you can prevent small problems from becoming major issues that allow leaks and other types of damage to occur.

Here’s a quick guide on what you can do to perform roof maintenance and the types of roof damage that can occur.

Performing Roof Maintenance

Performing regular roof maintenance helps extend the lifespan of your roof and protects your home.

Here are some tips to look out for that can help maintain your roof:

• Use a ladder or find a high vantage point to do a visual check, especially after storms
• Keep an eye on your ceiling for any signs of staining or sagging
• Clean off any dirt and debris using a leaf blower
• Regularly clean and remove any blockages from the drains and gutters

All of this may sound simple enough to do yourself but we highly recommend hiring a licensed professional to assist you. Doing this yourself may be dangerous or it could be a reason for insurance companies to deny claims. A professional has the necessary equipment and safety training to work on high or flat roofs.

It is recommended to get flat roof maintenance twice a year, typically after the winter and summer seasons. This is also the case for shingles or clay tile roofs.

Maintenance for Splitting

Splitting is when the material covering the roof cracks or tears. When this occurs, water may leak through the cracks and cause damage to your ceiling.

It is especially important to keep an eye out for splitting if you are doing flat roof maintenance, as this is a common issue in such roofs.

Causes for splitting include:

• Exposure to the elements
• Stress and pressure on the material
• Water
• Freeze-thawing

To repair a splitting roof, ask your roofer to remove the damaged area. Once removed, the revealed section underneath needs to be cleaned and dried. Applying a bitumen adhesive or roofing cement to the area then laying a new matching material over it will solve this problem.

Maintenance for Ponding

Ponding is when large puddles of water start to collect on your roof. This can damage the material of your roof and cause it to develop deep, sinking indents. As the ponding continues, water may seep through the roof into the interior of your home, causing stains and watermarks.

Ponding is often caused by clogs in your roof’s drainage system, so sometimes, just clearing your house’s drains and gutters is enough to prevent further damage.

If ponding is still an issue after cleaning your roof’s drainage system, you may want to consider adding additional gutters and drains to it. You may also benefit from using automatic pumps, or you can have your roof re-laid in a way that creates a greater slope to aid in water run-off.

Maintenance for Blistering

Blistering is typically caused by excessive heat.

Blistering occurs when air is trapped between the layers of roofing material. As the air warms up, air pockets may start to form, causing bubbles in the material.

Once these air pockets form, they will expand and contract with any changes in temperature. After a while, the air pockets will burst and cause a tear in the material.

Even before the air pockets burst, the bubbling of the material can still allow moisture to seep into the interior of your house and cause potential water damage.

To fix blistering, cut along the bubbled material until it has gone flat. Ensure the damaged area is dry before applying adhesive. Press the previously cut segments onto the adhesive, then apply another layer of material on top.

Maintaining Your Roof

Proper roof maintenance is important to prevent severe damage to your home.

Though there are some simple ways you can maintain your house on your own, it is recommended that you hire a professional to handle any tasks that you think may be beyond your ability to perform.

At Tropicana Homes we use only the best roofing materials to ensure that your home will protect you and yours from the elements. If you are a Tropicana Homeowner you can refer to your warranty packet for more maintenance tips or log into your Homeowners Portal to download these files. We have been building homes in El Paso, Tx since 1950, our experience is unmatched! Call us today for more information, we are happy to assist you.