How to Maintain a Roof

Repairing a damaged roof can cost thousands of dollars, and afterward you will probably need to repair and paint ceilings and walls that were stained by water leaks. You can almost eliminate the need for repairs by keeping an eye on your roof, and correcting problems before they cause damage to the interior of your home.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Keep tree limbs from touching the roof. They can damage the shingles, and the leaves will clog your gutters.

2. See if there are black streaks on the roof. If there are, it means that mold, algae or fungus is growing on the shingles. If it isn't removed, it will eat away the shingles and lead to leaks. The north side of your roof is especially vulnerable.

3. Make sure the attic space is well ventilated to keep moisture down and prevent the growth of moss.

4. Wash your roof with a garden hose, taking care to do so from the top down. Directing water up onto the roof from the ground will result in water getting between the shingles. If a simple hosing down doesn't get the roof clean, try using a long-handled brush to gently scrub the shingles.

5. Check for missing or damaged shingles, especially after windstorms. If they are asphalt shingles, you can do the work to replace them yourself. Otherwise, have a professional replace them as soon as possible before a leak occurs. Also check for bent flashing.

6. Keep your gutters clear of debris and remove snow and ice promptly. Snow on the roof can cause ice dams, preventing water from leaving the roof promptly.

7. Check your interior walls, ceilings, exterior vents and chimneys for signs of water leaks. If you find evidence of a leak, figure out where on the roof the leak is originating and fix the problem by replacing the shingle, repairing the flashing or applying a sealant.

Tips & Warnings

• If you've got a leak, you can minimize the damage by drilling a hole in the ceiling so the water will pass through and drip into a bucket instead of pooling on top of the sheetrock, making things worse. If the water is traveling along the ceiling before dripping down in an inconvenient or inaccessible place, nail a string to the ceiling at the place you want the water to appear. Put a bucket under the string to catch the water.
• Take care when attaching objects such as satellite dishes to your roof. You may want to attach flashing over the bolts you used to attach the object to prevent leaks.

Resources

• To learn how to repair a water-stained ceiling, visit Do-It-Yourself Home Improvement.