Homeowners have a lot of work to do when they maintain their homes, from ensuring repairs are met on time, to custom additions improving the quality of life, to updating or upgrading home aspects. While you can do many aspects of home maintenance or repair, there are some things you should leave to the professionals. Likewise, there are some things you should simply never do to your home, especially your roof.
Your roof is the first defense against the elements, much like your walls, meaning homeowners should take great care to extend the roof’s life before it needs an expensive replacement. Knowing this, we’ve compiled a helpful list of things you should never do to your roof–things people have done before and then quickly paid for!
Never Neglect Necessary Fixes
Sometimes ignoring problems leads to more significant issues, which could usher you into a financial emergency if you’re not careful. Here are a few examples of neglect or poor problem-solving that inevitably lead you to large roof problems.
1. Bandaids Over Broken Bones
While this may not read as neglect right away, it counts because having a discount contractor come out to layer cheap shingles over your already dilapidated roof will make it harder for the next roofer to do a job correctly. In addition, depending on how many layers are already stacked, it could also be illegal for your area. Likewise, if you have a leak and decide to cover it with nothing but a tarp, this can lead to more significant issues, especially if you hold down the tarp with heavy objects or nails.
2.Overgrowth or Debris
If you have a large tree near your home, allowing it to grow and grow could inevitably lead to shingles not just being damaged but wholly removed. Additionally, if inclement weather is violent enough to tear limbs off that same tree, this could pose a significant threat to your roof or even your entire home.
Similar to an overgrown tree, allowing the buildup of debris on your roof or in your gutters can weaken the structural integrity of your roof and lead to mold, mildew, pest problems (insects or small animals), and many more problems down the road.
Never Do Too Much DIY
Sometimes maintenance or additions you think are helpful or good actually do more damage to your roof than you might realize. Here are a few examples of too much DIY that will lead to significant roofing issues later.
1. Improper Inspection or Cleaning
You’ve spotted some discoloration or improperly set shingles from the ground, so you head up to your roof to inspect. While you’re up there, you lift shingles or peel them back, thus destroying the integrity of the shingles you suspected might have issues. While these may be ugly or strangle looking, they still serve a purpose and lifting the shingles to inspect them has potentially put a hole in your roof that could lead to leakage. If you see issues like these, it’s best to call a professional roofing company rather than risk damaging your roof further.
Likewise, some types of cleaning–we’re looking at you, power washers–will cause more problems than they could ever hope to fix. However, no matter the age of your shingles, all it takes is a high-powered attempt at washing or scrubbing to fling shingles from your roof or destroy the graining that serves to protect your home underneath.
2. Addon “Enhancements”
You’ve finally bought that basketball hoop your kiddo always wanted, or you’ve decided to go green and install solar panels, or maybe you want to set up a fun holiday light display; do NOT attach these to your roof! Solar panels or satellite dishes need to be installed by a professional, and recreational items should never be attached directly to your roofing.
Even if you attach them correctly to the point that nothing could knock them down, that doesn’t mean that all the nails, screws, and holes you just added haven’t undone all the work your roofer did laying your shingles. Leaks, weakened framing, damaged flashing, and more could lead to costly repairs later.
Other Things to Keep in Mind
Walking around your roof or hanging out up there is not just dangerous; it can lead to excessive wear and tear on your roof that’s unnecessary. Furthermore, most of the damage your roof will sustain is caused by debris, weather, and aging; there’s no reason to speed up the process by spending time up there regularly!
Last but not least, another pitfall many fall prey to is unqualified or handyman roofers. While these may seem cheap initially, someone without a license, warranty, or insurance could mean getting a shoddy roofing job that ends in more expensive replacements or repairs. Be careful when choosing a roofer to do the job, as professionals are always the safest bet. Most will even offer a free inspection!
Putting Your Trust in an Experienced Roofing Company
At Arrow Roofing, we believe that informed homeowners make the wisest choices when it comes to prolonging the life of their home’s roof. That’s why we go to lengths to make sure our neighborhoods are educated on the good, the bad, and the ugly of home maintenance!
Our highly qualified roofing contractors have been in this business a long time, so we know what it takes to provide quality roofing services to both residential and commercial areas around Prescott, Flagstaff, Phoenix, and more here in Arizona. Our portfolio and testimonials can at test to the quality of work we provide.
Explore our website or reach out for your free inspection or more information about our services!