5 Roof Inspection Tips to Prolong Your Roof’s LIfe
So how is your roof doing? Oh, you aren’t quite sure? That’s alright, most homeowners don’t know what’s going on with their roofs because they rarely climb a ladder to take a look at them. However, that approach can lead to costly roof maintenance.The National Roofing Contractors Association recommends that homeowners conduct a simple roof checkup every fall and spring.
It is essential that you stay on top of your roof maintenance; if you do not take care of and properly maintain your roof, you could end up having to replace the whole structure, which is quite costly by most standards. Continue reading to learn about five things you should look for when inspecting your roof this spring.
Check Roof Slope and Drainage
The slope of your roof and drainage are separate issues; however, they often work in conjunction so is best to inspect them together. There isn’t much you can do about a roof slope, as it is a part of your home’s design; however, you can make sure that your drainage system is in tact, to prevent future roof leaks. Taking a few hours to remove debris that is clogging the drain will go a long way towards avoiding potential problems in the future. Also, a CT roofing professional can check the roof drainage system to compare the relationship of drains to the roof deck slope. The inspector should also check the size of all drains.
Look for Damaged Shingles
Shingles are essential for a healthy roofing system. You should search for crinkled, torn, loose, or damaged shingles. Pay extra attention to the chimney area to make sure that the flashing is tightly secured. Take some time to look for signs of rust and deteriorating, and check the flashing around dormer windows if you have any. Check shingles for bowing, cracking or cupping. If most of the shingles are showing wear and tear, you may want to consider reroofing.
Look for Popped Nails
Nails may not penetrate the roof sheathing well enough to keep the shingles on the roof if the nails are too smooth, or if the nail heads are too small. Nails need to be long enough to penetrate through the sheathing – unless it is ¾ inch thick or more, the nails need to penetrate the roof sheath deep enough to keep the shingles on the roof. That will prevent nails from popping off because of temperature and precipitation changes. Be sure to take note of any popped nails.
Check for Hanging Tree Branches
For some reason, many homeowners avoid this essential step. Your spring roof inspection should include an extensive inspection of the trees surrounding your property. Take notice of how close the trees are to the roof. Are they likely to touch the roof and damage shingles eventually? If trees are close enough to break shingles, or cause other damage to your CT roof, consider hiring a person to trim the tree branches.
Check Gutters and Downspouts
Gutters are essential to protecting your home, though it is easy to overlook their importance. Old inefficient gutters can lead to damage to your house like ice damming, water damage and rotting interior walls. These problems are more expensive to fix than the cost of replacement gutters. If you look at the gutters and downspouts and see particles that look like they came off the shingles, your shingles may be nearing the end of their lifespan.
Gutter covers are a great solution for many common issues that plague gutters throughout their lifespan (leaf and debris buildup, cracking, etc).
Fiderio & Sons | CT Roofing Contractors
