How To Maintain Your New Greater Boston
Area Roof

The Best Ways To Keep Your New Roof In Tip Top Shape

Your new roof looks amazing, and it cost you a pretty penny to boot. You can rest easy knowing that your house is protected and more energy efficient. Now you just need to maintain that investment and keep it safe from things like the harsh Greater Boston area weather.

From cleaning the gutters to trimming back branches, you’ll have a little extra work on your plate, but the end result will be so rewarding. If you follow these suggestions, you’ll keep your roof healthy and ensure it lasts an exceptionally long time.

Clean The Gutters

When you think about clogged gutters, you typically envision ruined paint on your siding or a wet basement. Did you know that the overflow can also go upward? When leaves pile up too deeply in your gutters, moisture can move into your roof sheathing, causing rot. It can even rot your roof rafters.

The best practice is to clean your gutters every spring and fall. You can do it yourself if you’re comfortable working on a ladder. If not, you’ll need to hire a professional.

Remove Buildup

Don’t let snow and leaves build up on your roof. If you don’t clean your roof after a heavy snowfall, you run the risk of ice dams building up. Ice dams are caused by warm attic air melting the snow and refreezing when it finds a colder portion of the roof. As additional meltwater gets trapped, it begins to seep through the roof.

In addition to clearing the roof, you will want to make sure that your attic is staying cool enough in the winter to prevent the production of ice dams.

If you don’t remove leaves and other organic materials that build up on the roof, they will slowly collect moisture and decompose, which provides a fertile location for weeds to grow.

Watch Out For Moss

While moss may give your roof a pleasant appearance, it is one of the worst things for your roof. It grows between shingles, and if left unchecked, it can actually push the shingles upward and away from the roof, allowing water to get inside. Not to mention moss also contains a lot of water.

Once you have a significant amount of moss on your roof, leaks and wood rot soon follow. It’s very important once you see moss to scrub it off as soon as possible to prevent damage. You can also sprinkle zinc sulfate granules seasonally as a preventative measure.

It’s critical that you correctly remove the moss, or you could void your roof’s warranty. Many homeowners think that the best way to go about this is to use a pressure washer; however, this will automatically void any warranty on the roof. It can cause the granules to deteriorate or separate from the shingles as the shingles were not built to withstand the pressure.

Trim Overhanging Branches

Overhanging branches can cause you two problems. First, when there is a bad storm, they can be broken, causing serious damage to your roof. Second, they offer a pathway for rodents and other pests to your home.

To prevent this from becoming a problem, you’ll want to make sure you trim back any branches that begin hanging too close to your home.

Maintain Sealants And Coatings

The sealants and coatings on your new roof will not hold up as well as the rest of the roof. They will need to be reapplied every few years to make sure your roof stays strong. This primarily applies to metal and slate rooftops.

Is It Time To Replace Your Out-Of-Date Roof? Call The Best
Roofing Contractors In Town

Is your roof old and outdated? Are you all-in on a roof replacement? Then you need the Greater Boston Area’s expert roofing contractors at Solid State Construction!

With a nearly 5-star reputation across all the review sites, it’s clear that we know how to take care of our customers. We only use the industry’s best products and practices with no corner-cutting, half-measures, or compromises.

Call us today at (508) 841-3373 or schedule your virtual consultation.