A strong, well-designed roof is a crucial component of a home exterior. It is responsible for warding off severe elements such as hail, snow, rain, and the glare of the sun and making sure that the residents and their personal belongings remain dry, safe, and free of damage. One of the most popular roofing materials on the market is metal. 

A metal roof is customizable, durable, efficient, and long-lasting if the installation of it is made by professional roofing contractors. However, in order to take full advantage of the impressive performance of a metal roofing system, it is important to know how to properly maintain it. In this article, a metal and flat roofing expert breaks down a few essential maintenance tips to follow.

Knowing Your Metal Roof

Even though a well-installed metal roof often requires minimal repairs and upkeep, knowing how to properly care for your roof will provide you with better defense against wind, rain, heat, and other elements for a long time. 

General Tips for Maintaining Your Metal Roof

To ensure that your metal roof remains in tip-top shape throughout its lifespan, perform these general cleaning and maintenance tasks:

1. Clean your gutters thoroughly.

Rain gutters play a vital role in keeping residential or commercial roofs in good condition. This also includes downspouts and drain boxes. Even innocuous elements that people encounter day-to-day can be a source of concern. Leaves, twigs, dirt, bird droppings, and other debris can fall into the gutters, build up and clog your system. This often leads to leaks or overflow, resulting in other damage to your house, including the roof, siding, and foundation. 

2. Trim away tree branches.

Any large, overhanging branches that touch the surface of your roof should be trimmed. In wild, blustery weather, these tree branches can break and end up scratching or denting portions of your metal roof. After a particularly stormy day, it is a smart move to inspect your roof from the ground up. If you notice telltale signs of metal roofing damage during the brief inspection, be sure to contact a professional roofer right away to confirm if there are other underlying problems that need to be addressed. 

3. Look for roof penetration.

Cracks, loose seams, and penetrations on your metal roof will allow rainwater or melting snow to trickle into the roofing system, creating an ideal environment for water-related damage to take place. For example, mold and mildew thrive in damp conditions. Once these reach the attic, it is only a matter of time before the interior walls and ceilings are affected as well. While a metal roof leaking in several places is rare, leakage can still occur around vents and skylights. 

4. Check for loose or damaged parts.

From the flashing to roof sheets, ridge caps, fasteners, and venting materials, all components of your metal roofing should be in good working order so that your home remains comfortable and safe. If you are not certain what you need to look out for, schedule a maintenance visit and let a professional contractor inspect, diagnose and repair any issues. An experienced roofer will conduct a thorough inspection of your interior, exterior, and roofing materials to ensure that your metal roof will last for many years to come.

5.  Clear waterways.

Metal is one of the most widely used flat roofing systems in the present time. In fact, a low-slope metal roof can provide years of minimal maintenance and low life-cycle costs. But the thing is, any flat or extremely low-pitched area on the roof can become a pooling area. As twigs and other debris collect on the roof, water is unable to run off and drain from the roof, causing a wide array of problems such as mold, rust, moss, and even rot, all of which can compromise the performance and beauty of your home.