You might not realize it, but one of the most neglected parts of any house is the roof. That’s because we have little reason to up there and do anything. And why should we? After all, its job is to keep the rain and cold out of your home. When a builder constructs a roof, it has to last for decades, if not hundreds of years.
The trouble is; there will be times where roof maintenance is a necessity. Some types of roof need more care and attention than others. And if foreign objects damage your roof in a storm, for example, you’ll need to check for damage.
Is your home’s roof looking a little worse for wear? If so, let me give you some tips on how you can sort things out yourself. I’ve done that myself recently, in case you wondered!
Choose a good day to get up on the roof
Let’s face it; the last thing you want to do is balance yourself on the roof of your home on a windy day! That’s why it makes sense to plan your inspection in advance. Choose a day that offers the best weather conditions.
It usually makes sense to carry out such work during the summer months of the year. That’s because the chance of showers and high winds will be low in many areas. Check your local weather reports to find out when is likely to be the best day.
Get the right tools for the job
While you’re waiting for the perfect weather conditions, you can take the time to get the right tools. The first thing you will need is a ladder. Roofing companies, and even window cleaners use extendable ladders as part of their work.
If your roof is quite high up, you may wish to consider renting a cherry picker. Otherwise, a good old fashioned ladder will do. You will also need a pressure washer to blast away any algae and debris from your roof tiles and guttering. Be sure to use a long water hose with your one so that you can keep the pressure washer at ground level.
Safety
As you can appreciate, working on your roof isn’t a safe prospect by any means. There are some steps you can take to lower the risk of injury. For example, you can install some guard rails on the edges of your roof. And you can wear PPE (personal protective equipment) like gloves and a hard hat.
Some people also prefer to erect some scaffolding around their roof. I decided to do that as it was an affordable way to stay safe on my roof.
Maintenance
Last, but not least, you’ll need to start cleaning and fixing up your roof. In my case, all I needed to do was spray some algae remover and then blast it all away with my pressure washer.
If you need to repair or replace roof tiles, make sure you’ve got the right type available. And be sure to fit the tiles in the same order as the surrounding ones.
Good luck with your roof maintenance project!
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