It’s above you every day. But you rarely even think about it: your roof.

Your roof provides you with defense against wind, rain, snow, hail and heat. Every day your roof is exposed to weather hazards and other elements, all of which contribute to its damage and deterioration.

The primary cause of roof problems is a poorly maintained roof. As one of the largest parts of your house, it requires regular inspection, maintenance and repair. The most vulnerable part of your home, the lifespan of a roof can be shortened dramatically if neglected. With proper maintenance, your roof can last an average of 15 to 30 years.

Why is roof maintenance important? Let’s look at some of the reasons below:

Maintenance increases the lifespan of your roof.

Your roof is constantly being exposed to all kinds of conditions, so it is very important that you provide your roof with maintenance to avoid major damages.

This maintenance also lengthens the life of your roof. Roof maintenance can also mean the difference between a repair and a replacement when there is a problem, minimizing future or unexpected costs.

How often should you have your roof inspected and maintained? That depends on several factors—the age of the roof, weather conditions, and any problems identified during previous inspections.

Even if your roof is newer or hasn’t had any issues, its always a good idea to have it inspected at least once every few years.

Your warranty doesn’t completely protect you.

A warranty can give you a false sense of security, but it’s important to remember that just because your roof came with a warranty doesn’t mean that it will be repaired or replaced with no questions asked.

When you are dealing with a roof warranty, it is important to remember that there are many factors at stake. Not all roof warranties are the same, and many of these warranties can easily be voided if materials are installed incorrectly or if damage is caused by something a seemingly innocent as installing a roof-top satellite dish.

Your roof is part of your house’s curb appeal.

You want your house to look good both inside and out, but people often forget their roof because they take it for granted. It’s above their heads, so it isn’t something they think about.

Your roof is an important curb appeal item that your neighbors and those wanting to move into your neighborhood will notice. As anyone in real estate will tell you, an attractive exterior can make or break a home sale.

Clogged gutters can cause rain and snow to not drain properly, possibly ruining landscape as well as the gutters themselves.

Roof algae can prematurely age your roof and cause ugly black streaks.

Most of these problems can be fixed by simple maintenance such asor debris removal.

Roof maintenance saves you money.

How does spending money on roof maintenance actually save you money? During an emergency situation, you’re at the mercy of the roofing company. Are you really going to spend time shopping around for the best price when your floors or walls are being ruined by a leaking roof?

A lot of roofing companies make their money on emergency service calls—not on roof replacement. Service calls are often billed on a time and materials basis, with extra money being charged on holidays, evenings or weekends. Driving to the location, setting up equipment and investigating the problem are all part of the bill.

If your roof turns out to be defective or has a major problem, you can spend thousands of dollars repairing it. This is in addition to the time you will have to spend having your roof repaired, which can mean missed time from work or appointments as well as the possibility that you may not be able to live in part or all of your house.

Service call bills add up. The money you could have spent on inspection and routine maintenance costs is a lot less than what you’ll spend during an emergency situation.

Your roof could be hiding something.

Homeowners often don’t realize that there is damage to their roof until it begins to leak, and by then the problem is often much larger than it appears. Water can infiltrate your attic and damage insulation, wood framing and structural steel even before mold appears or ceilings and walls start leaking.

The tricky thing about roof leaks is the combination of water and gravity can make them appear far from where they originate on the roof itself. Performing regular inspections and maintenance can locate problems that may not have begun to appear inside your house.

You’re helping the environment.

Although there are asphalt shingle recycling facilities available in many states, the majority of old roofing shingles still end up in landfills. Protecting the current shingles—as well as insulation underneath it—is better for your wallet and the environment.

Roof maintenance means that you can replace a rubber gasket, flashings or a few damaged shingles instead of an entire roof.

Maintenance of your roof also means that the insulation material under your shingles and in your attic stays dry. Getting insulation wet reduces its effectiveness and can also cause mold to grow.

Keeping your insulation material in good shape will allow it still be used—and stay out of landfills as well—even if your entire roof does need replaced.

You’ll have peace of mind.

Knowing that your roof is in good shape gives you peace of mind. You don’t have to worry about a leak after every major weather event or be concerned about the possibility of mold making your family sick.

Preventative maintenance is the most proactive way to keep your roof and home in good condition and prevent problems in the future. Maintenance lets you be in control and concentrate on other things, giving you peace of mind.

Maintenance saves time when it comes to installing new roof.

Have you ever dealt with road construction on a major highway or state route? When you’re stuck in construction traffic, you aren’t thinking about how adding another lane or exit will ease your commute in six months. You’re thinking about how the situation is currently impacting you.

But when it comes to your roof, thinking ahead is what you need to do. If you do eventually have to have your roof replaced, frequent maintenance will make the job easier for the roofing company, allowing them to complete the job quickly and taking less time out of your schedule.

Maintaining your current roof means that the existing insulation and wood carpentry can stay in place when a new roof is installed. Not having to replace any of these major items is not only cheaper, but it means that the roofing company will spend less time at your home interrupting your life.

Conclusion

Maintaining your roof is necessary to protect your home and everyone that lives there. Dealing with roof issues is frustrating and time-consuming. Stay ahead of any problems with preventative roof maintenance.

Roof maintenance is time saving, eco-friendly, increases your house’s curb appeal, gives you peace of mind and saves you money in the long run by extending the life of your roof.

Most importantly, a little roof maintenance can result in a lot of savings, especially when compared to repairing the damage from a leak or having to replace all or part of your roof due to a major issue.