One of your new year resolutions should be to take better care of your roof. Why? Because roofing is terribly expensive, especially when roof-related problems are connected to other issues within your home. You can expect to spend thousands getting a roof repaired, which is an amount most people do not have immediately on hand. But, if you learn how to prepare your roof for what is to come, you can reduce the risk of severe damage and spend less money on maintaining your roof’s good condition.
Here are some tips on how to prepare your roof for 2021:
1. Get a Professional Roof Inspection
Roof inspections should be done every two years, regardless of how the roof looks on the outside. By hiring a professional inspector, you are assured that, if there is a problem, they will find it, and they will also be able to fix it or at least make recommendations about repairs and replacements.
For the homeowner, this means less guesswork. You can then decide if the repairs are worth doing yourself or if it requires a contractor’s help.
2. Check Your Shingles Often
After winter, torrential downpours, and high winds, your shingles may have gotten banged up. Look around the yard for torn shingles or missing granules around downspouts. If you find anything, you might have to get up on the roof and examine the shingles more closely. One or two shingles will a missing screw or a bit of peeling do not have to be repaired immediately, but if there are large sections of missing shingles, shingles peeled away from flashing, cracking or curling, then you have a problem that cannot be ignored.
3. Look At Your Attic
The exterior of the roof is only ½ of it. Do not forget that there are layers to the roof—and one of the layers is in the attic. That’s right. The insulation in the attic can affect the roof. Sometimes, water damage will affect the insulation in the attic, and if the insulation is failing, that leads to energy seepage. Your utility bills may begin to rise, and the temperature in your home will be hotter or colder than average. So, be sure to inspect the condition of the attic and the insulation.
4. Wash Your Roofing Then Check For Leaks
Yes, your roof can get dirty, even with all the rain and snow that fell on it the previous year. That is why some roofs grow moss or algae or even weeds in the gutters. Though these things do not cause immediate damage, they will increase the permeability of the shingles, allowing for leaks to form.
Clean your roof on a sunny day by applying 50/50 water and bleach to it. Spray the solution over the mold and moss. Or, install some copper strips, since those help kill bacteria and algae.
Once you have washed your roof, go inside and check for signs of leaks. A few signs include musty odors, dark spots on the ceiling, and water stains. Soft ceilings are also a sign.
5. Clean Out Gutters and Clear Debris
Dammed up gutters, debris in the roof valleys, and loose gutters result in a couple of things. The biggest issue, though, is pooled, stagnant water. When water pools on or around the edges of the roof, as you would see with a clogged gutter, water can easily seep into unprotected sections of the roof and damage the internal structure. Further, if the gutters are not operating properly, water may sluice down the side of the house and pool around the foundation, leading to issues.
So, prepare your roof for 2021 by cleaning out the gutters and removing any debris from the roof.
6. Check The Flashing
One of the most common spots to spring a leak in the roof is thin sheets of metal called flashing. The purpose of roof flashing is to make the roof more watertight by redirecting water away from joints and seams; but with improper installation, flashing can become faulty. So, when you are up on your roof doing a routine visual inspection, make sure that the flashing is laying properly and is not peeling away from places where it has been installed.
Flashing should be inspected at least once per year.
7. Replace Sealant
Any roof that has antennas, chimneys, brick or plumbing stacks, dormer windows, or even skylights should have the inspector (or yourself) look at the sealant around these features. Just like caulking and sealants around doors and windows failing over time, the elements take their toll on any sealant found on your roof. Look for cracking or missing sealant. Replace it if you find any of it has been highly damaged.
8. Look At The Chimney
The chimney is something that a lot of people forget about. However, the chimney is a weak point on the roof, because there is usually flashing around the base, which can peel away over time. There is also a chance that mortar will crumble and fall out, allowing the bricks to come loose. Unfortunately, some contractors are ill-prepared for dealing with brickwork. You may have to hire a mason to take care of this issue.
9. Monitor The Roof Condition Throughout The Year
Since the beginning of every year greets us with face-numbing weather, it is also prime time for the roof to get damaged during the freeze-thaw cycle, when ice dams form or snow piles up and pulls the gutter from the roof. If you keep an eye on the roof, you may be able to detect any problems caused by the winter early, and that will give you plenty of time in the spring to get the problems dealt with. Remember, keep up with the maintenance, and you shouldn’t have any issues throughout the year.
Conclusion
Prioritize your roof. Do not be negligent throughout the year. Start off right by prepping your rooftop with routine maintenance. With preventative care, you will be able to relax when the harsh weather of summer arrives.
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