Lehigh County Roofing Needs Regular Gutter Maintenance

Think about your roof in Lehigh County, and the first thing that probably springs to mind is backbreaking weekends spent perched on a ladder, cleaning out debris and stagnant water from your roof's gutters. What many Lehigh County homeowners don't realize is that many a roof has been unnecessarily damaged because of poor gutter maintenance. Maintaining your gutters is a basic but important step in preventing a wide variety of issues that can damage your Lehigh County roof's structure and take an unexpected bite out of your home repair budget.

What's the best way to maintain your roof and clean your gutters?

1. First, remove debris, twigs, etc. from your roof. Since it is not safe for you or good for your roof to walk around on your shingles, use a ladder and a broom to remove debris. If climbing a ladder is not for you, consider calling a professional roofing contractor like Global Home Improvement, one of the leading roofing contractors in Lehigh County.

2. After you've removed as much debris as possible from your roof, you're in a good position to also inspect your gutters. No doubt, a variety of interesting things have gathered there, such as twigs, rocks, leaves, dirt, water and other signs of nature that can lead to damaging your roof and possibly costly repairs because of roof damage. Be careful not to put pressure on your gutters as you clean them out. This could cause them to pull away from the house or become bent, which will affect the function and looks of both your gutters and your roof. And a note about roofing injuries: Stretching to reach a faraway spot on your Lehigh County roof while standing on the ladder is never a good idea. In fact, it's one of the top reasons why people fall when attempting to maintain their roofs. Clean small sections of your roof and gutters at one time, moving your ladder frequently to avoid overstretching. While you're on the ladder performing a cursory inspection of your Lehigh county roof, note any missing or damaged shingles or other conditions that may indicate the need for roof repairs. Some repairs can be simple to perform yourself, but most roofing repairs will require a professional Lehigh County roofing contractor.

3. Don't forget to inspect the area where the gutters connect to the downspout. Remove debris here as well to prevent problems with clogging. As you can imagine, water can collect on your roof and, if the gutters are clogged at any point, that pooling roof water will have nowhere to go except to slowly seep into the walls of your home.

4. Feel free to use the garden hose to clean debris off of your roof, as well as to finish your gutter maintenance. Your overall goal is to ensure everything is flowing properly, from the peak of your roof, down the sides of the roof, into your gutters, and down to the ground.

Regular roof maintenance is an extremely important step in avoiding future problems with your Lehigh County roofing. Regular roof maintenance will alert you to problems, so that you can make the necessary repairs sooner rather than later, avoiding additional expense. The roofing experts at Global Home Improvement have inspected, repaired and replaced many Lehigh County roofs and welcome the opportunity to inspect your roofing and offer their most professional advice. Contact Global Home Improvement today. You'll be glad you did!