Maintenance & Long-Term Care
Proactive care dramatically extends the operational lifespan of your roofing system and protects your manufacturer warranty coverage.
Clear tree limbs that overhang your roofline. Keep all branches trimmed back at least 8 to 10 feet from the shingles. Trimming eliminates physical abrasion against shingle surfaces during windstorms, prevents squirrels and raccoons from accessing your eaves, and minimizes leaf drop that traps moisture in roof valleys.
Clean your gutters and downspouts at least twice annually—once in late spring after tree blossoms drop and again in late autumn after leaf fall. Clogged gutters force rainwater to back up beneath the eave drip edge, rotting the structural fascia boards and promoting winter ice damming.
Treat moss and lichen growth using gentle, zinc- or copper-based biodegradable chemical solutions. Never use a high-pressure power washer on an asphalt shingle roof; excessive water pressure strips the protective mineral granules, instantly ruining the waterproof asphalt layer. For continuous defense, ask your roofer to install thin zinc or copper strips along the roof ridge; rainwater washing over the metal releases natural ions that inhibit fungal and algae growth across the slopes below.
Maintain a detailed maintenance logbook. Store copies of your original installation contract, municipal permits, annual professional inspection reports, and repair receipts in a dedicated home management folder. This documentation proves ongoing upkeep to insurance adjusters during storm claims and transfers valuable reassurance to prospective buyers when you sell your home.
