As a landlord, you are responsible for maintaining your rental property, including the roofing. Maintaining a property’s roof can be cumbersome and time-consuming.
However, it is essential to protect your investment and tenants’ safety. To solve your woes, here are tips for maintaining the roofs of their rental properties.
Schedule An Inspection
You should inspect your roof and repair any damage that may occur at least once a year. Failing to do so can open you up to lawsuits (for negligence) or lose your insurance coverage. Moreover, a lack of inspection can lead to instant roof repairs. Not just the hassle, it can hamper your month’s finances too.
Check For Cracks
Cracks on your roof could be a sign of usual wear and tear and weather changes. They also imply the need of getting it repaired. If the cracks are small and there is no leakage or damage, you can simply fill them with caulk. However, getting them repaired by a professional remains the only option if the cracks are large or there seems to be quite a lot of damage.
Check Leakages, If Any
If your roof leaks often, consider looking for the source first. Most often, cracks caused during a storm or damages from animals are the sources of roof leaks. Ignoring the leaks will only worsen and spread across the entire roof area. This will not only be expensive to fix but may also lead to the tenants leaving your property for good.
Replace Damaged/Missing Shingles
If there are missing or damaged shingles, consider replacing them. Shingles are usually about $150-$250 each, so this fix can get very expensive. You can, however, replace the shingles yourself if you are familiar with roofing or hire a roofer to do it for you.
Fix Any Broken Downspouts
Downspouts collect and direct water away from the roof. So, if the downspouts are broken, they won’t function properly. Instead, water will pool around your property’s roof, making life difficult for your tenants.
Consider The Load!
If you put on too much weight on the roof, there is a chance that it could collapse. This will lead to water damage and can cause injuries or even kill someone. You can avoid this by checking to see if there are any signs of overloading before doing any work on the roof.
Get Rid of Moss and Algae
Moss can cause leaks, rot wood, corrode metal, and wear down the roofing material. Algae is also hard to remove once it’s attached to something; therefore, it will be best to get rid of it from the start.
Here are some useful tips on getting rid of moss and algae from the roof:
- Acid washing can be done by applying acid to a steep roof and allowing it to run down the sides.
- Many professionals use power washers with a brush rotating at a high velocity to break down moss and algae. You can rent power washers from a home improvement store.
- If you aren’t comfortable using chemicals, you can always opt for hand scrubbing.
Bonus Tip: Consider Professional Help
If you are not comfortable with inspecting or repairing your roof, consider contacting property management Monterey to do the job for you. They will inspect the roof for damage, make repairs if necessary, and ensure that the roof is maintained properly. This can be a much safer and easier alternative than doing it yourself.
Conclusion
No matter how old your rental property is, it is important to inspect and maintain it. After all, that place is your temporary shelter. Ignoring the above issues may potentially open you to lawsuits, lose your insurance coverage, and risk water damage in the future. We hope the aforementioned tips help you keep the issues at a distance!
