Choosing and Living With a Roof
Lesson 22. Keeping a New Roof Alive
At a Glance
- Clean gutters twice a year, always after the last leaves
- Trim branches back six feet from the roof
- Never pressure wash a roof. It voids warranties
- Keep the attic vents clear when you add insulation
Twice a Year, One Hour
- Clear the gutters and check the downspouts are actually running
- Walk around the house with binoculars and look at all four slopes
- Check the attic with a flashlight for stains, daylight or damp insulation
- Look at the pipe boots and the flashing around the chimney
- Cut back any branch within six feet of the roof
Spring and late fall are the right times. The fall one matters most here, because whatever is in the gutter in November is what feeds an ice dam in January.
The Three Quiet Killers
| What | Why It Shortens the Roof |
|---|---|
| Overhanging branches | They drop debris, hold moisture and abrade the surface in wind |
| Blocked ventilation | Insulation added later, covering the soffit vents, cooks the roof |
| Pressure washing | Strips granules, drives water under the shingles and voids warranties |
Keep the Paperwork
Put the contract, the warranty documents, the registration confirmation and the photographs in one folder and keep it with the house papers.
You will want it when you sell, and if a warranty claim ever happens it will need documentation nobody can find ten years later.
That Is the Whole Course
Twenty two lessons. If you have read them all you now know more about roofs than most people who buy one, which was the point.
None of this was written to sell you anything. If you want somebody to look at your roof, our number is at the top of the page, and if you would rather take what you have learned to another company, that is a perfectly good outcome too.