Your Spring Cleaning Roof Checklist

Your Spring Cleaning Roof Checklist

Jan 25, 2021 | Roofing Tips

The Perfect Checklist For Spring Cleaning Your Roof
With springtime right around the corner, it’s time to start preparing for your spring cleaning! When you’re a homeowner, springcleaning can mean much more than merely decluttering the house and mopping your floors.

There are outdoor spring cleaning responsibilities to catch up on, too, including your roof! So, when you take on your spring cleaning this year, don’t forget your roof.

To help ensure that your roof gets the attention it needs this spring, we’ve compiled this spring cleaning roof checklist! Follow these simple steps, and your roof will be ready for the new year in no time!

1. Clean the Gutters

Over the course of fall and winter, twigs, leaves, dirt, and other debris will make their way into your gutters, clogging them up. If you didn’t clear out the debris from the fall when you winterize your roof, snow and rain might have made these clogs even worse. Now that it’s spring, cleaning out your gutters can’t wait any longer!

Clogged gutters can lead to foundation damage, roof leaks, and siding damage. If you’re uncomfortable taking on this chore, be sure to call an experienced professional to clean your gutters and ensure that your home is ready for spring!

2. Trim Nearby or Overhanging Tree Branches

Having a tree near your home can be the perfect way to add some shade, which will shield your house from direct sunlight and make sitting outside more comfortable during warmer weather. However, if any tree branches have grown too long, they can end up damaging your roof, whether it breaks and falls on the roof or scratches against it. If you’re not sure how healthy the tree branch is, it should be addressed as soon as possible.

Remember, it’s always best to hire a professional to cut trees or tree limbs that could damage your home. Even a simple mistake trimming trees can cause the very problem you were aiming to prevent!

3. Wash Off the Dirt, Growth, and Grime from Your Roof

There is a myriad of things that can wind up on your roof over the fall and winter months, including dirt, small animal droppings, moss, and grime. Not only do they make your roof look bad, but they can damage it as well. Have your roof cleaned off this spring to ensure that this debris and build-up doesn’t hurt your roof or compromise its integrity.

If you’re doing the cleaning yourself, ensure that you’re using the proper cleaner for your roofing material, avoid pure bleach that can fade colors and damage your roof, and be sure to dilute your cleaner in water. It’s also recommended that you avoid using a pressure washer as it can damage your shingles. Stick with a garden sprayer or hose to wash away the cleaning solution.

4. Check Your Roof for Signs of Damage

If you had a particularly rough winter, the weather could have given your roof a run for its money. When you’re doing your spring cleaning, keep an eye out for signs of damage on the roof. These signs include loose or missing shingles, damaged or missing flashing, wood rot, and granules or pieces of shingles in your gutters. You should also check inside your house for wet spots in the attic, ceilings, and crawl spaces.

All of these signs can indicate a more serious issue that will need to be corrected as soon as possible. Winter weather always wears on a roof, so when springtime rolls around, be sure to always check for these signs.

Wrapping Up

Spring is the ideal time of year to make sure your roof is looking good and performing its best, and if it needs repairs, spring is still the best time to get started! With this simple spring cleaning checklist for your roof, you can make your home look better and ensure your roof is stable. Good luck with your spring cleaning in 2021!