Maintaining your new roof

No matter how good the warranty is or how durable the shingles are, it’s up to you to maintain your roof properly to ensure its durability and maximize your investment.

Here are some helpful tips:

• Remove anything that may interfere with the normal flow of water; don’t leave debris on the roof or in the gutters;

• Inspect the roof and the attic in the spring and fall. If you need to go up onto your roof, avoid doing so in very hot or cold weather, walk softly, and take all necessary safety precautions;

• After a major weather event, have a professional inspection done;

• Once every year or two, check to see whether the joints around the vents and chimney are dry, loose or cracked, and make repairs if necessary;

• If you see signs of brown-black algae, proceed with thorough cleaning;

• If necessary, trim any tree branches that could come into contact with the roof;

• Take a look at roof vents and skylights; make sure there is no heavy snow coverage, which would impede the regular flow of water;

• If you need to clear snow or ice from the roof, use equipment made from plastic (without sharp or pointed ends) and leave a layer of snow to avoid damaging the roof covering. Entrust this task to a professional if need be;

• If you urgently need to remove ice, choose the best way to limit the damage: pour hot water down the roof to create channels through which water will drain.