Roofs are expensive, and even the smallest leaks can cause major problems, so you want it to last. The best way to extend the life of your roof is to perform semi-annual inspections and dentify and address problems as they occur.Because of their location roofs get more abuse from the elements than other part of the house. What looked fine in the spring has spent the past few months being rain-soaked and sun-baked. Now that the weather is starting to cool down, go up there and take another look. Be sure to set your ladder solidly on stable ground (don’t use a stepladder to get to the roof). , apply sun-protection, and drink plenty of water, then get ready to clean, inspect, & repair.
Remove all debris that has collected on the roof, including around chimneys and other roof penetrations. Debris can collect and retain moisture, leading to the deterioration of your roofing materials.
Trim branches and shrubs that are touching your home. They can provide a pathway for bugs and
rodents as well as excess moisture entering the house.
Remove dead branches that may fall on your home.
Now that things are cleaned up, inspect the roof for damaged, loose or blistered shingles. If bad shingles cover less than 20% of the roof, simply replace them, or have them replaced by a pro.
Examine flashing around chimneys, vents, valleys, skylights and roof edges. Flashing is the last defense against moisture intrusion at these vulnerable spots. The flashing should be free of damage, lie flat, and be surrounded by shingles that are also free of damage and laying flat. If flashing is damaged, replace it.
Remove any caulking and sealant that is weather-worn or cracked. Clean the area with a brush and apply new caulking.
Remove debris from gutters and downspouts. Haul up a hose or bucket of water and test the gutters. Make sure the downspouts direct water at least 5 feet away from your foundation walls.
Examine fascia and soffit boards, and the eaves. Areas of deterioration or flaking paint on eaves can indicate a problem with the gutters. Inspect and repair gutters around these areas. Sand and repaint the eaves as necessary.
If the eaves are soft or rotting they may allow rain into your attic or the tops of your walls! This moisture problem can become very serious very quickly, so be sure to replace damaged fascia and soffit boards! If you live in a hurricane-prone region, extend the fascia so it terminates below the underside of the soffit.
www.garynsmith.net SafeHome Inspections 601-454-5559
This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 25th, 2007 at 4:35 pm and is filed under Roofing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
