Roof Maintenance in Oahu: What Island Homeowners Need to Know

Oah’u, also known as the Gathering Place, is the heart of Hawaii. Living here, you are lucky enough to enjoy the deep culture, beautiful landscape, and year-round sunshine. However, with island life comes island weather. From salt air corrosion and extreme heat waves, to high winds and tropical storms, owning a home and keeping up with the roof maintenance in Oahu can be challenging.

The high winds on Oah’u combined with everyday wear-and-tear of your roof can cause your roof and your home to lose its value. Luckily, there is a lot of at-home maintenance you can do to keep your roof in tip-top shape for years to come. Learn about the best roof maintenance tips in this guide by True Home Hawaii.

Carry Out A Professional Roof Inspection

A professional roof inspection can help you keep your Oahu roof safe and structurally sound. By understanding how often to invest in a roof inspection, you’ll save yourself time and money. The unpredictable weather conditions in Oahu make roof inspections necessary more frequently.

Hawaii has 10 of the 14 world’s climate zones, causing a very complex seasonal change. The West side offers almost-constant sun, a gentle breeze, and limited rainy days, while the Windward Coast is defined by trade winds and showers. Where your property is located in Oahu will determine how frequently you should have a roof inspection.

At True Home Hawaii, we offer roof inspections 24/7 and suggest scheduling annual check ups. It’s most important to inspect your roof before a heavy storm approaches or high winds are recorded to ensure the roof is structurally sound, preventing leaks or further damages.

Protect The Area Around the Roof

With 23-45mph winds constantly hitting Oahu properties, it is important to properly maintain your home. Trimming excessive foliage and caring for the landscape can help your roof withstand strong winds without reporting severe damages.

By caring for the vegetation in your yard, you can prevent moss from growing in shaded areas, keep overhanging branches and limbs from cracking shingles and panels, and eliminate scratches that can facilitate water infiltration. The more you care for the landscape around your roof, the more protected you will be when a storm system hits the island.

Keep The Gutters Clean

Whether it is because of high winds, falling foliage, disheveled tree limbs, or rainfall, it is possible for debris, leaves, and branches to accumulate on your roof. If this happens, debris can end up clogging the gutters, preventing water from flowing away from the roof and draining properly.

By not properly maintaining your gutter system, several issues can occur. Your gutters can begin to pull away from the roof due to the added weight of debris and rainwater can back up, causing an overflow. The overflow of water can damage siding and shingles, escalating to further damage within the interior of your home.

Keep your gutters clear of clutter so your roof can see the longevity of your home. The following are just a few ways your gutters can affect your roof:

• Gutters pull away from the roof
• Overflowing water
• Clogged drainage systems

Be Aware of the Rainy Season

The tropical climate zones in Oahu play a large factor in the intensity of the rainy season. The overabundance of tropical storms and rain that Oahu sees makes it difficult to keep your roof in perfect condition. To prepare for the rainy season there are a few things you can do before calling for an inspection:

• Ensure the gutters are properly cleaned out
• Fasten loose screws that can cause panels to pull away
• Address the surrounding foliage in your yard.

Our experts at True Home Hawaii can help you prepare for the rainy season with a professional roofing inspection. We will fasten any loose screws that could cause panels to pull away from the roof, ensure all shingles are structurally sound and in place, and examine and replace sealants as needed. We suggest having your home inspected before and after the rainy season to guarantee optimal roof warranty.

Partner with True Home Hawaii

Areas of Oahu are at the mercy of powerful elements, such as rains, winds, and heat. Looking after your roof is essential to keep your home safe and your property valuable. Understanding what to look for can be challenging—but, True Home Hawaii is here to help. We are experienced in caring for all types of roofs and weather conditions on Oahu and provide top of the line customer care.