The roof is the most important part of your house since it protects you and your loved ones while also giving your home the much-needed aesthetic value. Having a good roof is something that every homeowner desires.

Unfortunately, most of us tend to keep our roofs out of sight and out of mind. We often forget about it until the time something wrong happens. Unfortunately, your roof can’t take care of itself, and it is your responsibility to inspect your roof regularly and address any issues that may arise.

Since we often ignore our roofs, we can also do things that may cause long-term damage to its structure unknowingly.  Here are some of the common roof mistakes that most homeowners tend to make.

Covering the Old Shingles Instead of Replacing Them

One of the most common mistakes that homeowners commit is covering the old shingles rather than replacing them. The recommended approach when replacing a portion of your roof is to remove all the old shingles and replace them with new ones.  

Roof repair experts say that shingles are specifically designed for flat surfaces and they may not do a good job if they are old. If the old shingles are cupped, the defects will be passed on to the new shingles, and this won’t do you any favor.

Not Cleaning Your Roof Regularly

You might be thinking that a dirt roof isn’t a big deal at all. You are wrong. When dirt and debris build up, it causes material decay, especially if your roof is made of metal. Roof repair Montreal contractors recommend that property owners schedule professional roof cleaning at least once every two years. This will ensure that your roof stays in good condition and protects you and loved ones for a long time.

Cleaning Your Roof with a Pressure Washer

While still on the point of cleaning your roof, don’t try to clean it with a pressure washer since you may end up causing more harm than good.  If you are using a pressure washer or continually pouring bleach on your roof, you are most likely causing deterioration of the roofing materials.

If you clean your roof regularly and you start to notice granular loss, excessive moisture pooling, or cracked shingles, then it means that you are over cleaning. Sadly, your desire to keep your roof sparkling may be causing it to age prematurely.

The best thing to do is to ask your trusted roofing company to clean your roof in the right way during the annual roof inspection or maintenance.

Taking the Small Damage for Granted

Whether the damage is as a result of unfavorable weather conditions or a small nail, it is critical to do something about whatever damage that you may discover on your roof as soon as you notice it.

You need to keep in mind that all the major roof problems start as small issues that go unattended for a long time. Be sure to inspect your roof after any major weather event such as a storm or hurricane and fix all the issues that you may discover.

Making Roof Inspection and Maintenance a DIY Project

Unless you are a professional roofer yourself, make sure that you hire an experienced professional to conduct roof inspection, repair, and maintenance tasks. You need to remember the fact that roof inspection, repair, or maintenance requires expertise and it is a difficult task to accomplish.

Don’t underestimate any roofing project in your home. You may think that something is easy only to call in an expert to rescue it when things become tough. This will only cost you more money in the long run.

Therefore, if you need roof repair, replacement, or maintenance service, make sure that you hire a certified roofing contractor from the start.