Every year, the majority of homeowners plan to replace their house’s roof. The reason behind this is the end of the lifespan of a room or the severe damage done by the storm that is not repairable. Furthermore, there is a time when you have to replace your roof. But there are different maintenance roofing tips for homeowners regarding roof that should be followed to avoid the early tearing of your roof:
A homeowner might have a question in his mind, how to inspect a roof for damage? To help you out, below is the proper inspection checklist. It will help you to prevent and identify the damage on your roof. Let’s get started:
1- Check Leaks in Your Attic & Ceilings
During the inspection, if there is any leakage problem, then find out the water stains present inside your house. It is important to check your ceiling and attic after regular intervals for the water damage. Some of the most common warning signs of water damage are:
- Swelled patches on your interior walls.
- Musty odors in some rooms
- Water stains present on your ceiling.
- Spots present on your exterior walls.
If you notice any of the signs, then the next step is to find out the leak and call the professionals to close the hole in your roof.
2- Regularly Check Your Shingles
The first step here is to simply check your roof after a heavy storm of high winds. You can simply climb up the ladder to check your roof or use a good pair of binoculars to identify any potential damage. During your inspection, check cracked, curling shingles, missing shingles, peeling flashing, and missing granules
See any of the above signs of damage? If yes, then it is time to repair them as soon as possible. For instant repairing of your roof, contact Corey & Corey to hire professional roofing contractors Cape Cod to fix the problems. The expert will safely and will properly do the immediate repairs. As a homeowner, you should inspect your roof after interval for early identification of the damages. This approach will save you from costly repairs.
3- Properly Wash Your Roof
One of the key advice in the roof maintenance checklist of your shingle roof is to wash it properly. After some time, your roof looks dirty and you might see large and dark streaks on it. This is the algae growing on your house’s roof. There is no immediate damage done by the algae but if it is left untreated for a long time, then it will slowly rot the shingles of your roof.
To get rid of the algae, spray your roof with a 50% mix of water and bleach. The bleach will easily kill the algae but there is also a need to install copper strips below your roof’s peak. This will help in preventing the algae from coming back because when it rains, then the copper molecules will come down your roof to kill algae.
4- Patch Up Chimney
When going through your roof maintenance checklist, do check chimney for cracks or missing mortar. If there is any structural damage of any size, then this will cause the brick to fall out and will damage your roof. Furthermore, this will lead to the collapse of your chimney. Hire a contractor or fix mortar cracks by yourself.
Moving on, there might be a chance that you are having a sloping or leaning chimney? In this case, the problem will be with your house foundation. To resolve the issue, it is best to call a contractor and get it fixed. Don’t forget to check the rest of your house for any signs of foundation problems.
Precaution: If you are planning to work by yourself on the roof, then it is best to buy a safety harness to avoid serious injuries. However, it is still better to call in professionals to get the repair done right and on time.
5- Cleaning Your Gutters
No roof checklist is complete without the cleaning of the gutter. It is a dirty job but cleaning your gutters is an important part of the maintenance of your roof. The clogged gutters make it easy for the water to go down the structure of your roof. This will create water stains. It is recommended by many of the experts to clean the gutters twice a year. First cleaning should be done in late spring and second in early fall as a part of your home maintenance checklist.
6- Trim Overhanging Branches
Overhanging tree branches can create problems if they are ignored. One of the prominent risks that they might fall down on the roof during the severe weather conditions. It is important to stay active and quickly cut the branches of the trees hanging over your roof. Doing so will reduce the chances of storm damage and will prevent leaves from collecting on top of your shingles that will absorb moisture that leads to rotting.
7- Clearing Moss from Roof
Moss eradication should be done at the start of the fall. Apply the moss killer that is specially made for the roof. Note that the granules for the lawn usage have iron and they will stain a roof. During the spring, remove remaining dead moss by using a broom. Spread the moss killer along the ridge of a roof and on the remaining green patches. Clean the roof, clear the gutters, and apply the granules.
8- Doing Roofing Repairs on Your Own
Seeing any loose, missing or damaged shingles? It should be replaced immediately. Just check the popped nails that need to be hammered back in place.
If you are comfortable working on a roof, then replacing shingles and caulk flashing will not be a difficult task for you. Buy the bundle of shingles and the roofing caulk to get work done. Spend some hours of your day to repair a few shingles.
Furthermore, the metal and vinyl flashing present around chimneys, skylights, and the attic vents need to be resealed with caulk. However, the flashing and vent boots should be replaced if there is any sign of rust or deterioration.
9- Get Professional Roof Inspection
You might be wondering, why there is a need to pay for roofing inspection when you are having a checklist right in front of you? Well, the answer is that a professional inspector will be able to identify all the potential problems that might be missed during your inspection. Furthermore, he will be providing you valuable tips for the maintenance of your roof. The experts will also provide a rough idea about the lifespan of your roof. Most of the experts recommend getting roof inspection after two years. The inspection done once in a year will help you to identify the problem early that might turn into a costly repair with the passage of time.
A) How Much Does a Roof Inspection Cost?
The cost of roof inspection can be between $200 to $680 depending on the roof type. The cost of roof inspection for a residential property is less and price of commercial roof is more.
10- Questions To Ask Before Hire a Roofing Contractor
Planning to hire an expert roofing company? When doing so, below are the questions to ask when hiring a roofing company?
- Having a workman’s compensation insurance?
- Are you having general liability insurance?
- Are they having a proper license?
- Will you be removing my old roof?
- What will be the warranty on my roof?
- What you will do in the severe weather during the job?
These are some of the questions that can be asked before hiring a roofing company. You can ask other questions as well that comes in your mind without any hesitation.
Conclusion
This was detailed information about the things that should be done during the roof inspection. No matter what, whether the roof problem is large or small? It is always recommended to hire a professional roofing contractor to fix your roof problems. If problems are ignored, then this leads to costly repairs. So, it is better to take early action for saving your money.
To know more about the roofing services offered, call us at 508-775-8240.
