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Fortunately, Hamblet’s has been in the business of repairing roofs for over 30 years, and this has given us some good ideas about how you can maintain the value of your roof for a long time.

Cut Back Those Trees

Branches pose a dozen risks to your roof. Dead branches that hang over your roof can fall off and either clog your eavestroughs or break your shingles. Living branches give animals access to your roof. They also drip water on your roof and fill your eavestroughs with dead leaves, which can cause water to overflow and damage your roof. In the winter this can create icicles that weighs down your flashing. Your best defence against these threats is to keep any branches that might stick out over your roof trimmed. Be sure to keep dead trees away from your house too, as dead branches can break off in the wind and be blown over your roof.

Inspect for Unwanted Animals

Wildlife can do a lot of damage to your roof. Mice and other vermin can chew holes in shingles, especially water damaged ones, and tear out parts of the soffit. Once they have put holes in the roof, your home is open to water damage and mould. Birds can block your gutters with their nests, and insects such as wasps can chew away at your shingles. Little mammals and birds are particularly active in the Spring and Fall, so those are good times to get up on the roof and check for any entrances they might have created. If you have an attic, you might want to perform regular inspections for droppings and footprints to ensure nothing has gotten in. 

A good way to keep animals out is to put some wire mesh over your attic's vents and other openings. This will keep smaller animals from using it as a front door.

Clean the Exterior and Eavestroughs

Clean eavestroughs and exteriors help preserve roofs as they allow water to drain off safely without overflowing onto the more vulnerable parts of your roof. It also deters animals from accessing your roof because there is nothing for them to eat or use in nests. Keep trash cans away from your house and tie up any bags of garbage tightly. Keep your yard raked so that vermin don't have anywhere to hide. 

Make Sure Your Roof Is Properly Vented 

Your roof vents are incredibly important to the longevity of your roof. Your roof soaks up UV rays and heat, making the attic directly under it warmer than the rest of the house. When snow lands on your roof, it melts from the heat of the attic and drips down into your eavestroughs; if eavestroughs are full, you run the risk of creating icicles. The ice blocks the rest of the water and snow from falling off your roof, which can cause water damage by burdening your roof with too much weight. During the summer, the heat from the attic degrades shingles. To prevent these problems, make sure that your vent holes are clear and installed by professionals who will make sure they work correctly.

Get Quality Materials for Your Roof

Roofs can be made of many materials. Shingles can be made of fibreglass, steel, or wood, and the underlayment, the waterproof layer under the shingles, can come from different sources. Picking the right one for your roof will make it more water resistant and capable of surviving UV rays. Fortunately, licensed roofing specialists will know what will work best for your situation.

At Hamblet’s, we are proud to be the recipient of 18 Reader's Choice awards for roofing, siding, and window treatments. We work hard to keep the homes of Niagara safe and leak-proof, so if your efforts to maintain your roof requires expert help, contact us today.