3 Levels of Proper Maintenance for Your Roof

When you rent properties to tenants, the maintenance needs can get overwhelming. The roof on your property is not something you ever want to neglect, though. Protecting the roof and keeping it in good shape is essential to protecting the rest of the building. There are three levels of roof maintenance you may encounter as a property manager.

Regular Maintenance
The roof on the building you manage requires the same care as individual homeowners need to take for their houses. At least once a year, you need to clean out the gutters and downspouts. Leaves, twigs and other debris get caught there, obstructing the drainage system and trapping water on your roof. If you live in an area with a lot of trees, you may need to clean your gutters more often. An annual inspection of your roof is also a good idea. Inspectors know exactly where to look for leaks so that you can fix a problem before it gets out of hand.

Preventative Maintenance
There are several roof maintenance tasks that often seem as if they can be deferred until a later date. It’s important, however, not to put off these tasks, because they are vital to preventing big problems. Painting the wood trim on the house or building every 2-3 years helps you keep track of how the wood underneath the paint is holding up. Painting can help you identify termite problems and water damage early. Keeping your trees and shrubs trimmed can also help your roof as it minimizes the amount of debris that can get trapped in gutters.

Emergency Maintenance
Sometimes, no matter how well you maintain your roof, an emergency will occur. A hailstorm could damage shingles, or a tree could fall on top of the house. Quick response is key to minimizing problems in these situations.

Proper roof maintenance is more than just responding to problems as they occur. If you maintain a regular and preventative maintenance schedule, your roof is likely to stay in good shape.