Regular Cleaning can Protect Your Roof
Cleaning out your gutters is a messy, time-consuming task that few of us enjoy. But it’s necessary to make sure your roof stays strong enough to protect your home. Gutters are an often overlooked but nonetheless essential part of your roof, and when they’re clogged with fallen leaves and debris, they can’t do their job.
That’s why our roofing experts recommend cleaning your gutters at least twice a year, in the spring and the fall. This will renew the protection that these structures provide for your roof, just in time for the extreme weather of summer and winter.
Preventing Water Damage
The primary function of your gutters is to funnel rainwater and snowmelt away from your roof. When your gutters are clogged with dead leaves, water gets tuck on you roof and forms puddles. Pooled water can wear away at your shingles, cause cracks and leaks, and promote the growth of mold and milder. In colder weather, it can even lead to patches of ice forming, which can cause even worse cracks. If left unchecked, all of these issues can compromise your roof to the extent that it may need to be replaces entirely.
Keeping Pests Away
Clogged gutters don’t just make it impossible for water to drain away from your roof, they also make a great home for unwanted animal guests. Pests like birds and rodents love to make themselves at home in leaf-filled gutters, and from there, find an entryway into your home through your roof. These creatures can damage your shingles and, in the case of squirrels and other rodents, chew holes in your roof to get to the safety of your attic. Regularly cleaning your gutters denies pests their initial nesting spot, making your roof a less appealing target and encouraging them to move on.
Proper Gutter Maintenance is Easy
Cleaning your gutters is necessary, but it doesn’t have to be a hassle. We had our roofers put together this list of simple tips that will help you clean your gutters faster and more effectively to maximize the benefits and protections to your roof.
- Avoid walking on your roof if possible
- Use proper safety gear like rubber-soled boots, gloves, and protective eyewear
- Don’t ignore your downspouts
- Use a plastic gutter scoop in addition to your garden hose
- Make sure any sagging sections get fixed
If you want to learn more about how gutters can protect your roof, or if you think some of the damages described above may already be plaguing your roof, send us a message online! Divine Roofing, Inc. is always here to help!