With spring right around the corner in Pittsburgh, it’s time for homeowners to take a look at their home’s roof to assess whether any repairs are necessary. If you are interested in learning more about how to tell if your home is in need of a roof replacement or maintenance, take a look at our blog!
Moss
If you have any moss growth on your roof, you’ll want to have your roof examined and have it removed. If left unchecked, moss will trap moisture to your shingles and cause damage to your roof deck. Although the winter is over, this effect is particularly harmful in the during the cooler months as it traps moisture to your shingles before freezing, which can easily damage shingles.
Leaves and Pine Needles
Whether you need to worry about leaves and pine needles is dependent on how many there are. If there are just a few sparsely spread out along your roof, you don’t need to worry about it. However, if there is a thick layer of leaves and needles, they will trap moisture on your roof much like moss does, which can lead to damage any time of year if the moisture manages to find its way into your roof deck or shingles.
Mold
Seeing discolored patches of mold on your roof is a sign that your roof is in need of maintenance. If you have mold, algae, or fungus growth on your roof, you’ll need to address it before it causes damage to your shingles or roof deck. You can remove mold from your roof by using a chlorine bleach solution to inhibit the growth. Ensure that you do not power wash the shingles to remove the mold or fungus because it will likely dislodge the granules on the shingles and significantly lower their lifespans.
Gutters
An important area to keep an eye on come spring is your gutters. They can easily fill with debris over the course of the winter, and ensuring that your gutters are free of any grime that would prevent them from working properly is essential to protecting not only your roof, but also your siding. If your gutters are not working properly, either from overflowing or not forming a tight enough seal to keep water inside the system and off of your home, you could end up with expensive repairs.
Shingles & Flashing
Finally, make sure your take a look at the bread and butter of your roof maintenance checklist, your shingles and chimney. Be sure to keep an eye out for any damaged or missing shingles, as this could lead to expensive repairs. Also be sure to keep an eye on your chimney and the flashing around it. This is often one of the areas that homeowners neglect to keep properly maintained, and it can lead water finding it’s way into the frame of your home.
Contact Us Today
If you need any repairs made on your roof, feel free to reach out to our team for more information. We can be reached over the phone at (412) 831-9991 or by filling out our online contact form! We look forward to hearing from you!