The ABCs Of Good Roof Upkeep

How often do you think about your roof and its overall health? It's easy to take your roof for granted, but without it, your home wouldn't be much of a home at all! It follows, then, that homeowners should try to keep abreast of their room's health as much as possible.

The question many have is, "How can I stay on top of my room's health?" Most people aren't roofing experts, and it can be hard to spot potential issues that aren't already glaring problems. However, setting some good habits can go a long way here. We'd like to start homeowners off by sharing just a few basic pieces of advice- the ABCs of good roof upkeep, if you will.

Algae Are Public Enemy Number One

Have you ever seen those big, black stains muddying up your neighbors' shingles- or maybe even your own? You're most likely looking at a colony made up of a nasty little organism called Gloeocapsa magma- aka black algae.

Most people see black algae as an eyesore and a nuisance, but not harmful in the way that mold is harmful. That's a misconception, though. Black algae can do a whole lot of damage to your roof in a number of ways, such as:

Weakening your shingles by eating through their limestone particles
Absorbing excess moisture and fostering mold growth
Trapping solar heat and messing with your home's energy efficiency

In humid environments like ours, black algae is common, but it isn't something that should be ignored. Regular roof cleaning can keep algae growth in check, and you should contact a pressure washing company that offers roof cleaning right away if you suspect your roof has an algae issue.

Be Aware Of Your Roof's Health

Now you know to look out for algae, and you're probably already quick to act when you see a serious problem- say, a big branch sticking out of your roof. But how else are you staying aware of your roof's health?

There are a few ways you can practice basic roof awareness skills, even from the ground. One way is to just walk around the house and observe your roof from the ground once every few months, keeping your eyes open for anything troubling like missing shingles, blistered areas, or clogged gutters.

We also advise homeowners to run down a basic checklist once every few months to identify potential hazards or issues. Here are some things you might want to consider:

When was the last time I had my roof cleaned or inspected?
Has my home been through any major storms recently?
How old is my roof? Am I getting close to the point where I need to replace it?

Thinking proactively about potential issues will help you be more aware of the things that affect your roof, and can help you spot problems more easily when they arise.

Clean Your Roof At Least Once A Year

There's only so much a homeowner can do on their own. Eventually, it's best to have a professional give your roof a good once-over. Just as you might get an annual check-up at your doctor, we recommend you hire a professional roof cleaner once a year.

This accomplished a couple of things. First off, roof cleaning is a really helpful form of preventative maintenance, getting rid of ugly or harmful messes like algae, mold, moss, soot, bird droppings, and more. Plus, you're hiring a trained roof care expert to check out your roof up close, they can either fix it themselves or let you know right away so you can find a solution ASAP!

SC Softwash Pros, LLC: A Roof Cleaning Crew You Cab Trust

As a professional pressure washing and soft washing company, we offer a lot of important exterior cleaning services, and one of those is roof cleaning. Regular roof cleaning keeps your curb appeal high, washes away hazards to your roof, and helps your roof achieve its maximum lifespan.

Roof care is easy and stress-free when you're working with our accomplished and trustworthy team. If you need a great roof cleaning company in Sumter, call SC Softwash Pros, LLC today at 803-305-0321.

Keep Your Property Clean With Our Sumter Pressure Washing Experts!