Roof Maintenance Tips for Homeowners

Your roof is your home’s first line of defense against the elements. Maintaining it properly can help you avoid costly repairs down the line — as long as you know what you’re doing and when to call for help. If you’ve ever wondered how to maintain a roof without getting overwhelmed, this is the place to start.

We’ll walk through practical and actionable asphalt shingle roof maintenance tips for every time of year, highlight DIY-friendly repairs and show you when it’s time to bring in the experts.

Seasonal Roof Maintenance

Regular roof care is key to preventing major issues. We asked Frankie Munoz, CEO at Bee Roofing & Exteriors, about what he’d recommend homeowners do to maintain their roof.

Spring Roof Maintenance

Spring is the perfect time for a post-winter roof check. Homeowners should visually inspect the roof from the ground to spot:

• Missing shingles
• Sagging or damaged gutters
• Debris buildup
• Algae and moss stains
• Missing caulking at the flashings
• Rusted flashing

Spring roof maintenance is also a perfect time to schedule a professional inspection to assess any hidden or not easily visible damage from winter storms, like missing nails, washed off granules and other signs of damage that are hard to spot.

In the meantime, clean gutters and downspouts to ensure proper drainage and prevent water damage as spring showers arrive. Also, make sure to check off the general spring home maintenance tasks.

Summer Roof Maintenance

The focus for summer roof maintenance should be on ventilation and keeping the roof clear of moss and algae. Trim back overhanging tree branches that could drop debris or rub against shingles. Ensure attic spaces are well-ventilated to prevent heat buildup, which can prematurely age your roofing materials. 

Fall Roof Maintenance

Fall home maintenance is all about preparation for the coming winter. Clear leaves and twigs from the roof and gutters at least once during the season and frequently if you have a lot of trees on your property. Inspect flashing and sealants around vents and chimneys to make sure they’re intact before winter arrives.

Fall roof maintenance is also the best time to schedule any necessary repairs and maintenance before freezing conditions set in.

Winter Roof Maintenance

Focus on prevention during your winter roof maintenance. Watch for ice dams forming along the eaves. Ensure your attic insulation is sufficient to prevent heat loss, which can contribute to ice damming.

No matter the winter home maintenance task, avoid any attempts to climb on the roof in icy or snowy conditions. You can safely remove excess snow on your roof from the ground with a roof rake.

Repairs and Maintenance You Can DIY

Homeowners can usually handle the most basic roof maintenance tasks, including:

• Inspecting roofs from the ground (like looking for sagging gutters or valleys in the roof and missing or damaged shingles).
• Cleaning gutters and downspouts.
• Trimming nearby tree branches to prevent fallen limbs or animals from landing on your roof.
• Monitoring the attic for signs of leaks or moisture.
• Using a roof rake from the ground to manage snow buildup during the winter.

How to Unclog Gutters

Roof gutter maintenance is usually the first task homeowners think of when approaching roof maintenance. While you could get on top of your roof and clean your gutters from that angle, we’d recommend you clean gutters and downspouts from the security of a ladder.

• Clear Debris: Begin clearing out debris near downspout strainers. Clear out large debris like leaves and twigs by hand. Use a trowel for caked-on debris. Remove and clean out the downspout strainer.

• Flush Gutters: Use a garden hose to flush out the gutter with water, starting far away from the gutter and moving towards the downspout.
• Check Downspouts: If water is running quickly out of the downspouts, your job is done. If water is not coming out or is flowing slowly, stick your hose down the spout and spray at full pressure to try to dislodge the blockage. If this doesn’t work, use a plumber’s snake.

DIY Shingle Maintenance

If you notice discolored or broken shingles on your roof, you may be tempted to take matters into your own hands instead of calling a contractor. This is usually a shingle roof maintenance task reserved for a licensed roofing professional, but there are some DIY methods for handling shingle maintenance.

When to Call a Professional

Any task that involves climbing on the roof, replacing shingles, repairing flashing, addressing storm damage or sealing penetrations to shingles or the roof deck should always be handled by a licensed professional. This includes maintenance tasks like:

• Dealing with mold or rot on shingles or roof deck.
• Cleaning moss-covered and discolored shingles.
• Replacing roof shingles.
• Fixing flashing around chimneys and vents.
• Handling structural damage due to storm, tree fall or old age.
• Replacing damaged gutters.

Roofing work involves height, tools and technical knowledge that make it unsafe and ineffective for most homeowners to attempt on their own. Many contractors also offer a workmanship guarantee, promising their work will be free of defects related to their labor and installation.

Cleaning Shingles

Shingle cleaning can take a lot of different forms depending on what you’re hoping to tidy up.

Take loose debris off of your roof with a leaf blower or a stiff broom. Stuck-on debris, like moss, should be carefully removed by hand or with a soft-bristle brush. Once the moss is removed, apply a moss-killer solution to the affected areas.

Algae stains can be removed with a 50/50 mix of laundry-strength liquid chlorine bleach and water. You can also buy products from home improvement stores that are designed to remove algae and even moss.

Do not use a pressure washer on your asphalt shingle roof — doing so can be too harsh on your shingles’ granules and degrade the lifespan of your roof. 

Replacing Missing or Damaged Shingles

Broken, buckled and missing shingles need to be replaced immediately. This is usually a shingle roof maintenance task reserved for a licensed roofing professional. There is a straightforward process they take to replace shingles.

1. Identify the target shingle
2. Break the seal from the roof deck and adjacent shingles
3. Remove the nails and adjacent nails
4. Remove the shingle and install the new shingle
5. Nail and seal the shingles to the roof

However, even though the process is simple, IKO recommends that only properly trained professional roofing contractors engage in the shingling and repairs of roofs. An improperly installed shingle can let in moisture and debris that can damage your roofing system. Professionals will know how to install and seal your shingles properly to keep your home happy and protected.

Stay Ahead with Regular Roof Maintenance

Staying on top of seasonal roof maintenance isn’t just about curb appeal — it’s about protecting one of your most valuable investments. Armed with these roof maintenance tips, you’re not just preventing problems — you’re building peace of mind, one season at a time.

If you’d like to keep your roof maintenance in capable hands, we can help you find a contractor near you. IKO helps remove the guesswork and guides you towards reliable roofers to ensure you can depend on your roof when you need it most.