Part of a roofing expert’s job is to help you better understand how to care for your roof. Another part is to tell you how NOT to care for your roof.

Here are a few examples we’ve come across over the years of how not to take care of your roof.

Don’t wait too long

The right time to take care of a roofing issue is when you first find out about it. Too often we’ve talked to people who said something like, “It’s just a small issue. I can wait to have it taken care of.”

Sometimes that’s true, and sometimes it isn’t. A simple problem like a missing shingle can turn into more missing shingles, water damage, leaks, and even more if it’s not taken care of quickly.

And don’t wait until the next storm comes along to reach out to a roofing expert. For one thing, you don’t know how long that will be. Second, depending on the damage from the first storm, the second storm could cause much worse damage.

If you’re sure it’s just surface damage and there’s no leak, it may not be an immediate threat. But doing nothing is almost never a good idea. Relatively minor damage can quickly become major damage if you’re not careful.

Don’t neglect your surroundings

Your roof doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s part of a larger environment, and there may be things in that environment working against the health of your roof.

The first thing to watch for is trees. Branches that hang over your roof may look pretty, but they are an accident waiting to happen. They can fall on your roof, grow larger and scrape your roof, or drop twigs and leaves into your gutters and clog them up. Even fallen branches in the yard can become a threat in strong winds.

Don’t hire the cheapest bid

When you do have a repair done, don’t hire the cheapest bid based on price alone. While the problem may be easy to fix, be sure the roofer has really made a proper inspection of the damaged area.

Don’t be afraid to ask the roofer questions! Would they recommend fixing the issue? What would they do if it were their home?

If you have never worked with the roofer before, don’t be afraid to get a second opinion from another roofer.

Don’t do technical things by yourself

The upkeep and maintenance of a home is a big responsibility. That includes fixing problems quickly whenever they pop up unexpectedly.

If you see something on your roof that concerns you and you aren’t 100% positive what to do about it, contact a roofing expert. Leave the risk of walking around on your roof to the people who are trained to do it.

Of course, many things you can do to prevent roof damage don’t require specialized training. But walking around on a slanted roof, nailing down roofing materials, installing flashing, and even inspecting a roof are all tasks better left to professionals.