Homeowners can easily forget about their home’s roof and gutters, but cleaning them is a critical investment in protecting their house. A clean and properly working system of roofing and gutters directs water away from your home’s structure, especially its foundation and basement. Debris, moss, and decaying plant materials all collect on roofs and in gutters, inhibiting the process or causing gutter clogs.
What Are the Consequences of Not Cleaning Roofs and Gutters?
The entire point of a system of gutters connected to a roof is to decide where the water from storms goes. If the water goes straight down, it can damage your house’s foundation, basement, and walls.
Left uncleaned, the roof itself can develop moss or algae buildup. Likewise, loose roofing materials accumulate, and the overall mass keeps water on the roof. The water can pool, exerting pressure and softening materials. It could also find its way into your house, leaking into your living space.
Worse, wet structural materials, especially wood, attract pests. Termites and rodents, in particular, like chewing on soft wood.
Rooftop and gutter water accumulations become bigger problems in the winter. The water freezes into ice, which can significantly weigh down roofs and gutters, potentially damaging them.
How Often Should You Clean?
Annual cleaning is common, with many homeowners targeting the period after autumn leaves have fallen. If your roof has been prone to collecting moss or algae during wet periods, usually in late spring to early summer, you may want to schedule a second cleaning then. Likewise, folks who own houses with lots of nearby trees and bushes may also wish to schedule a second cleaning each year.
What Are the Signs a Cleaning Is Needed?
Homeowners should look for visible signs that their roof may need a cleaning. Water may overflow from the gutters, especially if they’re fully clogged with moss or leaves. In extreme cases of clogging, you might even see smaller plants try to grow in the gutter system. Gutters may also sag from the weight of what’s in them.
The chlorophyll from the plants and algae also tends to have a staining effect. If you see green or brown staining along your home’s exterior walls, that’s an indication that the gutters aren’t keeping up. The staining will be visible even on a dry day.
When Should You Call a Professional?
Lots of folks consider gutter cleaning a perfectly fine DIY project. As long as you’re comfortable working on a ladder and dealing with muck, it is. However, make sure your ladder is long enough to prevent reaching. Also, it is fine to request professional help for even a simple fall gutter cleaning.
Professional roof cleaning becomes necessary when there are clogs in the gutter, staining anywhere, or moss on the roof. Professionals will know how to safely remove clogs and moss without destroying roofs and gutters. When you need gutter services in Manalapan Township, NJ, contact A-Top Roofing & Construction.