Winter is hard on roofs. Although snow and ice are precisely the sort of elements roofs are meant to protect against, that doesn’t mean that they don’t take their toll as the years go by. Without proper, frequent inspections, a minor issue can turn into a major problem in no time. With that in mind, we would like to offer you some helpful tips regarding how to inspect your roof.
How to Inspect Your Roof
A simple inspection is all it takes to prevent serious damage to your home and your wallet. If the weather in your region is somewhat mild, a good rule of thumb is to inspect your roof at least twice a year. Homeowners in regions with more severe weather should evaluate the state of their roofs a bit more often, especially after bouts of bad weather. Frequent inspections will help you catch problems early and address them before the issues escalate. During your inspection, be sure to look for the following problems:
Check the Flashing
Anything that disrupts your roof plane – chimneys, vent pipes, dormers – will have a piece of metal covering the gap. These metal pieces are called flashing. If there is any sign of rusting or of the caulking cracking, you need to get it fixed immediately. A faulty bit of flashing can let in elements, such as rain or melted snow. Even a little moisture goes a long way inside your home’s infrastructure and can quickly become much more than a roofing issue.
Check the Shingles
Are the shingles tearing? Are they warped? Are they curling up? Are there any missing shingles? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you need to replace some shingles. Also, if you have asphalt shingles, check for granules in your gutter. If you find any, that may be a sign that the asphalt is getting old and brittle and needs to be replaced. Likewise, if you have wood roofing of any sort – wooden shake or shingles – you need to check for rotting and warping. If around one-third of your wood roofing is beginning to rot or warp, you need to replace it. Finally, do not walk on rotting wood, as you could easily fall through your roof!
Check the Metal
Metal roofing typically lasts a long while, but it does eventually age. The most obvious signs that your metal roofing has seen better days would be rusting, pitting, or corrosion. And – hopefully this goes without saying – you will want to make sure no joints or seams have come loose. Loose means leaky, and leaky is bad.
Check the Tiles
High-end roofs often consist of clay or slate tiles. These roofs can literally last a lifetime, but you still need to check them. Ice can be particularly hard on clay and slate roofs, so after any icy encounters, you should evaluate your roof’s condition. As good as these materials are for roofing, they are also brittle and break rather easily. Look for chipped, broken, and missing pieces.
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It is important to know how to inspect your roof. Proper, diligent care can help keep something as simple as a missing tile from turning into structural damage that can be dangerous and costly. And should you discover a problem you need help fixing, we would be happy to help. Here at Taylor-Made Roofing, we offer a variety of services to meet your every roofing need. Contact one of our friendly, trained professionals today to see how the most reliable roofing company in southern Missouri can be of service to you.