Chances are this time of year thinking about home improvement and exterior home maintenance is all you're doing. Yes, even though our roofing and siding installation crews are on the job all year round, we find that many homeowners here in the Twin Cities aren't even considering getting exterior work done.  But really this is the time you should be thinking about what your home may need to prepare it for both this winter weather and the seasons ahead.  And the most important item to think about?  Your roof.  A healthy, well-functioning roof is extremely important to a home. It's the number one line of protection against the elements, so making sure it is in the best shape possible is crucial. Regardless of the age of your roof, keeping it in the best shape you can will not long help to prolong its life but also will enhance its function and appearance. Here are some things you can do to keep your roof in tip-top condition. 

But before we go further, we do want to caution homeowners about getting up on their roofs.   Just because something needs to be done doesn't necessarily mean you're the one to do it!  Being up on a roof can be dangerous, so unless you feel very comfortable, we suggest you hire a professional. And we definitely don't recommend being up there in the winter.  Roofs in winter can be challenging enough for roofing companies who have the right training and equipment.

Inspect the Roof Regularly

It is important to inspect your roofing on a regular basis. It's definitely something that should be done after a severe storm like one that brings hail. But at the very least, if you have an asphalt roof, you should have a thorough inspection done every two to three years. (Metal roofs can go longer than that; ask your roofing installation contractor what they recommend.)

In the second part of this post, we'll be handling the kinds of things you should look for on your roof when you or someone else is inspecting it as well as other things that will help extend the life of your roof.

Quarve Contracting, Inc. is a licensed Minnesota roofing contractor specializing in the installation of metal roofing.  We also install other types of roofs. And we work in the greater Minneapolis metro area.