When it comes to keeping a good home, maintenance starts at the top.

A little work and preventive care on a home’s roof will lead to savings in the long run, according to Dave Birckbichler, owner of Birckbichler’s Construction in Oakland Township.

“You have to maintain your roof,” he said. “Have to do the basic things, like cleaning out your gutters.”

Birckbichler, who has been in the home construction business all his life, said you should also have a trained professional inspect your roof about once a year.

“He can make sure there are no nails coming up or anything like that,” he said.

Maintenance is important because once a problem arises it can spread.

“One missing shingle can lead to a lot of hidden damage,” Birckbichler said.

But the maintenance required for a roof varies from home to home.

The first factor to consider is the type of roof on a home.

There are three commonly used materials in roofing — metal, asphalt and rubber.

“There are advantages and disadvantages to all of them,” Birckbichler said.

Birckbichler said metal is the best material, but also comes with the heaviest price.

“Metal is definitely the most expensive,” he said. “But it is also the most durable. I think people are starting to see benefits of it, though. We always recommend metal and tell homeowners about the pros of the roof.”

The longevity of metal roofing has made it the fastest growing material for new roofs.

“It’s just becoming more popular in recent years,” he said. “You can probably get 50 years out of it.”

For comparison, the traditional asphalt shingles can last an average of 30 years, Birckbichler said.

With asphalt, the type of roof, location of the house and weather play key factors in how long it will last.

The steepness of the roof — its pitch — is perhaps the main determinant in the roof’s life.

“The steeper the roof, the longer its life will be,” Birckbichler said.

Shallow-pitched roofs allow snow and water to sit on them longer, causing more damage.

“Steep roofs allow the water to run off quicker,” he said.

Things like dormers and shape also play an important role.

“Snow likes to sit in the corners of dormers,” Birckbichler said. “That can cause problems.”

Rubber roofs have perhaps the least amount of maintenance required, according to Birckbichler.

“Rubber is fairly maintenance-free as long as it is installed correctly,” he said. “But they do puncture easily.”

Regardless of the type of roof, Birckbichler said there is one thing all homes should have in Western Pennsylvania — an ice melting system.

“Ice melters are definitely needed,” he said.

The most common melters come in the form of a heated wire that circles the bottom of the roof.

The system prevents ice from accumulating on the edge of the roof and in the gutters.

No matter how prepared a roof is for winter, the snow will take its toll on any roof.

That is why maintenance in the spring needs to occur before damage can spread.

Birckbichler said the spring is one of the busiest times of the year for his company.

“We’ve had 15 to 20 calls of shingles being blown off already,” he said, referencing a couple high wind storms. “Spring is a good time to get your roof checked.”