When was the last time you went out and inspected your roof? If you’re like most people, it probably wasn’t in the last few weeks! Although we haven’t seen any severe weather yet here in the Howard County, Maryland area, it doesn’t mean your roof is free of leaks or doesn’t need to be repaired. So how can you tell if your roof is in good shape?

Believe it or not, most of the best roofing practices can be handled by homeowners themselves – though help from professional roofers may be required. If you need roofing contractors in Columbia, Clarksville or anywhere else in the Baltimore and DC Metro areas, Shanco can help!

Best Roofing Practices for Homeowners

As we mentioned, many of the best roofing practices can be done on your own. Even if you aren’t the world’s best handyman, don’t worry – one of the easiest ways to ensure your roof stays in top shape is simply to inspect it carefully and make sure your gutters aren’t clogged or leaking. Other simple roof maintenance tasks that fall in the realm of the average homeowner include:

  • Checking for and removing debris from the roof and gutters
  • ​Cleaning out the gutters and downspouts 
  • Checking for mildew
  • Inspecting roofing shingles for any damage
  • Checking the flashing (thin sheet metal at the base of the chimney)
  • Examining the chimney for cracks or other damage
  • Testing skylights for leaks
  • Checking for signs of leakage (look for discolored wood in the attic)
  • Making sure you have proper ventilation

Proper ventilation is absolutely essential when it comes to prolonging the life of your roof, so this point merits further explanation! Proper ventilation prevents trapped moisture and heat in the attic from damaging the roofing. Signs that indicate your roof needs better ventilation include mold and mildew, rust, ice dams in the winter, curling shingles, etc.

Easy Roof Maintenance

As a homeowner, don’t skimp on roofing inspection – it’s not all that hard to do. And if you run into problems, professional roofers can come out and have a look. Although it may not seem like it, careful inspections are an integral part of the best roofing practices. When there’s a leak to fix or proper ventilation to be installed, let the pros handle it, but it all starts with the initial inspection!

So if you haven’t inspected your roof this spring, what are you waiting for? Do it now, before the summer rolls around, and then contact local roofing contractors in Columbia, Clarksville, or surrounding areas so you can get a trained eye on your roofing. Shanco is nearby and ready to help when you can’t handle your roofing problems on your own – contact us for any roofing services you need or if you have more questions about the best roofing practices!