10 Roof Maintenance Tips from Wash Rite

10 Roof Maintenance Tips from Wash Rite

10 Roof Maintenance Tips That Save Money and Unnecessary Headaches

Installing a new roof can be expensive and it’s usually a major disruption for most Homeowners. That’s why inexpensive inspections and maintenance on a regular basis make perfect sense. A well designed roof maintenance program will keep your roof functioning properly, keep your warranties intact, and ensure that you get the maximum useful life from your roof.

1. Inspect the roof on a regular basis: Inspections are designed to find minor issues before they become major issues. You should schedule inspections before or after seasonal changes and after major storms. A proper inspection will always include looking in the attic for leaks.
2. Keep your roof free and clear of debris: minor debris such as leaves, small limbs, and sticks can damage your roof, prevent proper drainage, encourage algae & moss growth, and encourage wood rot.
3. Inspect / repair seals, joints, and flashing: These are the most frequent spots for leaks and should be regularly inspected for damage. Flashing covers entry points into your roof including the vents, exhaust pipe, and chimney, and it’s often a hotspot for leaks. Look for rust, cracks, and dried out or loose sealant.
4. Repair problems quickly: Roof problems don’t go away, they just get worse with time and more expensive to fix.
5. Keep your gutters clear: Gutters are a critical, but often overlooked, part of your roofing system. They allow for the proper drainage that’s necessary for the roof to function properly. When gutters back up, serious water damage and ice damming can occur.
6. Trim trees away from the roof: Tree limbs hanging down over your roof, or even on it can be a serious hazard. Not only do they put you at risk for broken limbs falling on the roof, they can wear down and damage shingles. Tree limbs can also encourage squirrels and raccoons to gain access to your home. Keep in mind that they may be closer to your home than you think: tree limbs are often flexible and can swing several feet during a storm.
7. Look for signs of animal and insect damage: Rodents, birds, bats, and bees can cause serious damage to your roof if they decide to make it their home. Inspecting for intrusions can prevent major damage and/or infestations.
8. If you live in area that experience it, clear heavy snow in winter as quickly as possible: Heavy winter snow accumulation can cause a roof collapse. If your roof is not shedding snow quickly enough, hire a professional to remove it. In New Zealand even though in some area's we receive winter snow falls in general our roof's are not engineered to hold heavy snow falls for a long period of time.
9. Avoid harsh cleaning methods: Roofs throughout New Zealand experience discoloration due to algae growth. And while a clean roof looks MUCH better than a stained roof, harsh cleaning methods or repeated cleaning often do more harm than good. NEVER allow high-pressure to be used on your roof. Roof Cleaning should always be done by a trained professional and should always be done in conjunction with a proper roof inspection.
10. Document your repairs and maintenance: This will help you keep track of your expenses as well as provide you with the proper documentation you may need in the case of a warranty or insurance claim.

With proper maintenance, you can maximize the life of your roof while minimizing the overall cost. This will allow you to save money and avoid unexpected emergencies while keeping your home and family protected.

For best results, consider our very affordable Roof Inspection and Moss and Mould treatment program. Our employee's are trained to address all of these items and more. And we’re certified to offer the best warranties in the business.

For more information about keeping your roof looking it best contact us for a chat about your roof or to arrange a free quote.

Wash Rite

PH: 080010126

www.washrite.co.nz

Top 5 Reasons to Power Wash Your Home

Top 5 Reasons to Low Pressure Wash Your Home

Why should you Low pressure wash your home?

Those of us that live in New Zealand know what it’s like to deal with crummy weather. It gets really hot, really cold, really wet and then really dry. The weather is unpredictable! Washing your home is the best way to get rid of mould, mildew and stains on your home’s brick/wood patio or your house's exterior walls. Take the first step to protecting your home by getting a free power washing estimate from Wash Rite House Washing today!

Wash Away Mold and Mildew.

1. Washing Saves Money: First and foremost,  washing is smart preventative maintenance, like gutter cleaning, for all exterior surfaces and can prevent costly repairs to your property. Furthermore, power washing is one of the least expensive cleaning tools or large surfaces such as your home’s exterior.
2. Washing Prevents Permanent Damage: Winter grime can cause serious damage and stains to your home and exterior surfaces if not properly taken care of and removed in the spring. Letting stain and grime sit on your home or office for very long periods can result in permanent damage.Washing can remove this grime quickly and easily with little impact on the environment, when compared with traditional cleaning solutions.
3. Low Pressure Washing Saves Time: Compared to regular cleaning methods, using a low pressure washing service saves valuable time. No mixing cleaning solutions, no climbing ladders, no strenuous activity, no endless scrubbing. Hand washing does not have the same power, and it could take hours to get a fraction of the results. When you choose to wash, the filth and grime that has attached to your outdoor surfaces throughout the winter will be cleaned away with little effort.
4. Washing Removes Allergens: With the arrival of spring in New Zealand, allergen levels begin to elevate. Homeowners can reduce the level of allergens in and around their home by washing the exterior of their home. This will help lower the allergen levels and can help you and your family live a bit more peacefully this spring without coughing, sneezing and watery eyes.
5. Washing Prepares Surfaces: New Zealand winters can be long and cold, and many homeowners use spring-cleaning as the perfect time to tackle that do-it-yourself project that’s been put off throughout the winter. Low pressure washing is the perfect way to prepare surfaces for paint or refinishing. Whether you’re thinking about re-staining your deck, painting your home, or refinishing your pool, Low pressure washing will prepare the surface better than any other cleaning process or solution.

When you’re ready to explore the many benefits that come from adding a low pressure washing into your spring-cleaning routine, our team at Wash Rite  is standing by to assist you. Connect with us today to discuss your specific project and to receive your free, comprehensive quote. We look forward to hearing from you and to helping you with all your low pressure washing needs. Contact us today to get started!

Why is Gutter Cleaning So Important?

A debris-clogged gutter can cause a leaky roof or water damage to the interior or exterior of your home.

Gutters are an integral piece of your home’s well being. They serve to control the flow of rainwater to protect your roof, walls, foundation and landscape.

But when neglected, experts say gutters can turn from a necessity to a nightmare. A gutter clogged with leaves, sticks and other debris can cause a leaky roof or water damage to the interior or exterior of your home. Contractors say gunked-up gutters also make nice homes for pests, rodents, mold and honeycombs from bee infestations.

“If you let gutter cleaning go by the wayside, it can cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars," says Troy Hillard, a Director with Wash Rite in Hamilton New Zealand.

“Gutters are a potential bomb above your head full of insects and critters, if you let them stay out of sight, out of mind,” Hillard added.

How often should they be cleaned?

It depends largely on where you live and, most importantly, how many trees are in your yard. Tim Beale, owner of Wash Rite Wellington Frachise in Wellington New Zealand recommends having gutters maintained in the spring and Autumn.

“I recommend people calling me in the Autumn when all of their leaves are down or almost down, Beale says. “In the springtime, maple trees get those little helicopters that go everywhere, including into your gutter.”

Hillard says it’s important to have a professional clean the downspouts as well because a clogged downspout "makes it hard for the rain to go down and that causes them to back up and overflow the gutter, which can cause damage to your home.”

You can judge how often to clean your gutters based on how often leaves in your area fall and the types of leaves, Hillard says.

“It should be on everyone’s to-do list about every four months, depending on the tree climate,” he says. “In a high-yield environment, leaves fall all year-round. You can’t wait until the last leaf falls.”

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Cleaning your gutters of leaves and other debris once or twice a year will protect your home from water damage.

Gutter covers reduce debris

Leaf guards significantly decrease the need for gutter maintenance, but they don’t eliminate the need completely, Hillard says.

Instead of every four to six months, you may only need to maintenance gutters with covers or screens every one to two years. The frequency of maintenance will depend on the quality of the cover and the type and quantity of trees in the yard, he says.

Even if you do have gutter covers, it's still a good idea to do a visual check each year, says Troy Hillard, owner of Wash Rite  in Hamilton New Zealand

Hillard says a guard will not keep all the debris out, adding: “Up to 15 to 20 percent can still get in, and you still have to remove the guard. Sometimes you need a professional to do so.”

It’s important to purchase quality covers and screens if you want to effectively limit the need for gutter maintenance, says John Burns, Manager of Wash Rite Hamilton in Hamilton.

“You need to look for one that’s strong enough to hold up and suits your type of trees,” he says.

A gutter cover costs on average between $1,500 to $2,500 depending on the size of the home and length of gutters, John says.

Do the job yourself or hire?

Although cleaning gutters is a task most homeowners can do themselves, it can be dangerous work. According to the Accident compensation corporation , falls from ladders sent more than 24,000 New Zealanders to hospital emergency rooms in 2015 (the most recent year available).

Before climbing a ladder, be sure it's sturdy and all the steps are in good condition. Climb the first two steps to determine if the ground is level. For soft soil, place plywood under the legs of the ladder. You should also make sure not to rest the ladder on the gutters themselves because the additional weight can cause them to collapse.

“I had a customer once that smashed both hips from falling off a ladder and received permanent injuries from it,” Hillard says. “That's one of the biggest things; safety. The second thing is a professional knows what they're looking at and can stop the problem before it gets worse. Gutter prevention is measured in pennies, and repairs are measured in dollars.”

During a cleaning, a professional should remove of all debris from the roof, gutters and downspouts, while checking and repairing any loose gutter spikes. The cost of gutter cleaning ranges from $75 to $225 for an average home, depending on the length of gutters, height of the home and scope of work. Most companies charge a flat fee, but the cost can go up depending on the complexity of the work.

Before hiring someone to clean your gutters, check that they carry liability insurance.