Keeping up with roofing maintenance is an important way to prolong the life of your roof. It can help keep your bills low and prevent costly emergency repairs down the road.
Throughout the year, weather patterns can impact your roof. In the hot summer months, excessive sun can cause shingles to deteriorate and moss to grow. In the winter, snowstorms can cause ice dams that lead to leaks.
Roof flashing is an essential part of your home’s roofing system. It’s the thin strips of metal that divert rainwater and melted snow away from windows, doors, chimneys, and other areas of your house.
Inspecting the flashing can help you avoid major issues with your roofing, such as a leaky roof. You’ll also be able to spot any small issues that may need to be fixed before they become serious problems.
One of the best ways to check for damage to your flashing is to use a high-quality camera and take detailed photos on a regular basis. Then, you can compare the current condition of your flashing against the photos to see if there are any changes that require attention.
If the flashing is missing from an area of your roof, this could indicate a larger issue. Missing flashing can allow water to get behind the shingles, which can lead to significant moisture damage in your home.
Another sign that your flashing needs to be repaired or replaced is if it develops cracks or dents. These dents can break the galvanized coating that protects steel from corrosion.
Those dents and cracks can cause the flashing to break and leak, allowing water into your home. This can cause structural problems, such as rot and mould growth, which can make your home uninhabitable.
Valley flashing, which is the most common type of roof flashing, is attached along the valleys of a roof where two roofing planes meet. These vertical fins stop water from leaking between the two planes, protecting your home and preventing costly damage.
You should inspect your roof’s valley flashing every year and have it inspected by a professional. A good roofing company will know how to spot signs of wear and tear, such as cracks and rust.
Besides checking your flashing for signs of deterioration, you can also use other methods to maintain it. For example, you can purchase screws that are made of the same material as your flashing and use them to secure it in place. This will help prevent it from slipping and pulling out of its anchor points.
Gutters are an important part of any home, and they help protect your property from water damage. It’s vital to regularly inspect the gutters on your home to ensure they are in good shape and working properly.
Inspect your gutters for cracks, clogs, and any other problems that might cause water to leak around your home. If you see any issues, they should be repaired as soon as possible to minimize water damage and decrease the cost of repair.
The first step to a thorough gutter inspection is to clean out all the debris in the gutters and downspouts. This can be done by hand using a tool designed for this task, such as a gutter scoop. This allows you to easily extract leaves, pine needles, twigs, and other debris that can build up over time.
Next, check the slope of the gutters and downspouts to make sure that they are angled correctly. A change in pitch can make it difficult for water to drain away from your house and foundation. Sagging gutters may also cause problems, so be sure to fix any sagging sections.
If you find any sagging areas, use screws to stabilize them and re-secure them. This will help prevent water from flowing down the sagging sections and causing damage to your roof.
You should then flush the gutters and downspouts with a hose. The water flow will help you determine if there is any clogging in the downspouts or if the clog is located in the downspout itself.
Once you are finished cleaning your gutters, be sure to inspect the gutter joints and the fascia board under the gutters. Look for signs of rust and cracks. This is a sign that a lot of water has been getting into the gutter joints, which can lead to serious problems.
If you have any concerns about your gutters or downspouts, it is a good idea to call a roofing contractor to take a closer look at them. Professionals are trained to spot problems and can take care of them before they become an issue.
