Even an asphalt roof, considered to have a short lifespan when compared to others, should give you a good 20 years of service before it has to be replaced. A roof has a much better chance of living out its working life if you or a roofer do some regular troubleshooting now and then. The beginning of the year is a great time to do it. If you feel nervous about going up on your roof, don’t hesitate to call in a professional roofer.

Do a Visual Inspection

You might not even need to go up on your roof to do a visual inspection. Ideally, you can do this from the ground using a pair of binoculars. Look for shingles and flashing that are broken or missing. You also want to look for signs of mold, lichen, moss, or rot. Don’t forget to go into your attic and check to see if there are any holes that need to be patched. Bring a notepad with you to write down what you see.

Clean Gutters

If you haven’t cleaned out your gutters during the fall, the start of the new year is the time to do so. Autumn leaves are bound to have fallen into your gutters. Enough of them will form clogs, and water can back up and saturate your roof shingles and even seep behind your walls. Again, if you’re nervous about climbing a ladder to your gutters, have a professional do it. Consider having a gutter guard installed, which will keep out debris but allow water to freely flow.

Clean the Roof

Debris left on your roof can rot and start to eat away at its shingles and even its underlying structures. You can use a garden hose to blast away the problems you can see, but a deep cleaning is best. It’s important to use the right chemicals to make sure that problems such as mold and algae do not recur.

Replace Shingles

Replace shingles that are degraded, broken, or missing. Missing or broken shingles allow precipitation into your home, which can cause your roof to need replacement sooner than it normally would. It’s helpful if you can find some extra shingles from the time the roof was installed or the last time it was replaced. They will be of the same type as the shingles already on the roof.

Learn More About Keeping Your Roof Healthy

In addition to protecting you and your property, your roof is a big part of your home’s curb appeal. Checking for and repairing small problems at the beginning of the year can prevent larger, more expensive ones in the future. Contact our professional roofers at Joe’s Roofing in Reno for more information or to set up an appointment for roof repair or replacement.