With the warm weather of spring finally upon us, you might be looking at all the home improvement projects that you need to do outside. One thing that you should not ignore is roof maintenance. Here are a couple of things to look at and potentially do after winter is over with.

Clean Your Roof

It's possible that your roof is now visibly dirty after going through the winter season. Cleaning a roof is easy to do, but it requires the right tools for the job. If you are going to attempt cleaning a roof on your own, you'll want to wear shoes that have a rubber sole to give you extra grip when talking on a surface that is slanted. It will make a big difference in your overall comfort and safety when working on a roof.

The first step is to clean off debris that is stuck to the surface, which includes sticks, leaves, propeller seeds, and other debris that is stuck to the roof. Things that are stuck to the surface are going to cause problems with mold growth underneath since it creates a dark and moist area where mold growth tends to thrive. All it really takes to clean the surface is to sweep debris away with a broom.

You can then spray down the surface with water to force any debris off the surface that is stuck to it. It always helps to spray downward in the direction of the shingles, since you want to avoid getting water underneath the shingles by spraying upward. This can cause shingles to become loose and get water into the roof deck. 

Repair Damaged Roofing Material

While on the roof, it helps to perform a visual inspection for damage. Look out for any shingles that are cracked, torn, curling upward, or missing a lot of granules. These shingles should be replaced with brand new material to prevent that area of your roof from getting worse. 

While cleaning the roof is easy, repairing damaged shingles is a bit more difficult to do. This is because it requires prying up the surrounding shingles to get access to the one that is damaged. It's very possible to cause damage to those surrounding shingles in the process of removing them. You can try waiting for a warmer day to do it since the shingles should be easy to manipulate because they are not cold and rigid. 

Reach out to a certified roofing contractor for assistance with making repairs if it is too difficult to do on your own.

For more information, reach out to a local roofing company.