The Importance of Roof Maintenance

The roof is the barrier that protects a building from the elements. It’s important to keep up with roof maintenance to prevent small problems from turning into bigger ones.

A well-maintained roof will help prevent moisture accumulation, which can cause mold and mildew. It will also improve energy efficiency by ensuring that the roof is adequately insulated and ventilated. Contact A. Parker Contracting for professional help.

The soffit and fascia are two of the most vital elements in your home’s roofing system. They keep moisture and other elements from damaging the roof, rafters and joists, protect your home from pests and provide structural support to the roof’s edge. In order to properly protect your home, the soffit and fascia must be maintained in good condition.

Most homeowners inspect their soffit and fascia when they clean their gutters every spring and fall. This is an excellent opportunity to look for any cracks, discoloration, mildew or mold growth and other signs of damage. If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to have the soffit and fascia repaired as soon as possible. Failure to do so could lead to water penetration into your home, which can damage joists and even cause interior mold problems.

In addition to the basic maintenance of soffits and fascia, homeowners should also make sure they have good ventilation in their attic. If there is moisture or excess heat in the attic, it can cause a lot of issues with your roofing system and even damage the structure of your home.

Soffits and fascia are made of a variety of materials including vinyl (or other composite), aluminum, OSB siding, hardboard, plywood and fiber cement. Wood soffits and fascia should be painted or stained every 6-8 years to prevent moisture intrusion and wood rot.

Fascia boards connect the eavestroughs to the joists or rafters and are used to direct rainwater away from the roof’s edge. If you have a fascia board that’s cracked, broken or separating from the roof, it’s important to have it replaced immediately to minimize damage to your roof and the inside of your home.

The soffit and fascia also serve to keep moisture, debris, animals and pests from entering your home through the eaves. They prevent raccoons, squirrels, birds, bats, mice and other critters from accessing your living space through the attic or under the roof. The soffit and fascia also prevent raccoons, squirrels, rodents and insects from damaging the wood in your roof’s joists, rafters or joist cavities.

Inspect the Gutters

Your roof is the barrier between your home and the elements. It protects you and your family from obvious dangers like falling tree branches and excess moisture that could lead to mold, but it also provides less-obvious protections like ensuring that your home’s insulation is up to standards to prevent energy waste and keep your family comfortable. Regular roof maintenance can help you spot problems early, allowing you to make repairs before they become costly and damaging.

Gutter systems are an essential part of a roof’s structure, and they play a crucial role in protecting your home from water damage. The gutters redirect water runoff so that it doesn’t collect on the roof or in the foundation and basement of your home, where it can cause wood rot and other structural problems. If you have an older roof with built-in gutters or a more traditional hung gutter system, it’s important to inspect them regularly for signs of leaks and other issues.

During a professional inspection, your inspector will look for gutters that are damaged, loose or clogged. They’ll also check the downspouts to make sure that they are properly diverting water away from the house, and that they are free of debris, such as leaves, twigs and bird nests. They’ll also check the gutters for shingle granules, which can indicate that shingles are beginning to deteriorate.

If you’re inspecting the gutters yourself, it’s a good idea to wear gloves when handling any debris you find. Also, be careful when using a ladder. Make sure that it’s securely fastened to the ground, and use stabilizing devices such as bricks if needed. You should also enlist the help of a spotter to watch the ladder at all times, and never “over-reach.”

It’s also important to check the slope of your gutters from the ground level before climbing a ladder to do an in-depth inspection. A gutter that slopes too much or not enough can lead to standing water, which can saturate the soil underneath the home’s foundation and seep into the basement and other parts of the structure, causing rot and damage to drywall and insulation.

Inspect the Flashings

A roof’s flashing is an unsung hero. It seals vulnerable points like chimneys, vents and skylights to prevent water from getting into living spaces. But the flashing’s duties can be thwarted by problems with building materials and conditions, including the natural expansion and contraction of building materials in changing weather. It is important to carefully inspect the flashing for signs of moisture entry and to re-seal areas where necessary.

Look for flashing that is corroded or missing. Corroded flashing is a sign that it may need to be replaced soon. In addition, you should check for a proper seal around all openings such as chimneys and vents.

Most roof leaks occur at junctions where the roof meets a wall. There are two common types of junctions, headwalls and sidewalls. In order to properly waterproof these junctions, flashing should extend up behind the exterior wall covering and down over the roof-covering material, as shown in this illustration. If the flashing does not do this, it is likely to leak.

The flashing for vents should be slightly larger than the diameter of the vent itself, to provide a good seal. Also, the flashing should not be slanted up or down to avoid collecting debris and moisture.

Chimneys should be cleaned regularly of a soot-like substance called creosote, which can trap moisture in the home. The roof should also be inspected for cracks and other damage to the chimney and the crown.

It is very common for the screws anchoring flashing to become loose or pull out, or for the metal to wear away at the edges of the hole it was locked into. This can leave the flashing unprotected and unable to do its job of keeping water out of the house. You can re-seal these holes by cutting a piece of flashing that is a few inches longer than the existing one, then screwing it into place and coating it with roofing cement.

You should also inspect the flashings around roof-mounted equipment curbs, such as electrical boxes and air conditioning units. Make sure the flashings are adequately protecting these pieces of equipment, and that the curbs are not a tripping hazard.

Inspect the Shingles

A roof inspection isn’t complete without a close-up look at the shingles themselves. An experienced roofing contractor will check for any shingles that are missing, cracked, or curling. They will also check the flashing around chimneys, sunroofs, and vent pipes to ensure that it isn’t rusting or deteriorating. The last thing you want is water from the rain and snow to leak into your home through the shingles.

The shingles are your first line of defense against the elements, and regular maintenance is key to ensuring they protect your home from damage. Leaks are common, and when left untreated they can cause serious water damage to drywall, insulation, and even the structural components of your home. Regular roof maintenance can help identify leaks and make repairs before they become a problem, saving you money on costly repairs down the road.

In addition to looking for shingle damage, you’ll want to inspect the attic for any signs of a leak. Water spots, stains, and mildew are all telltale signs of a leak, and it’s important to address them right away to prevent mold and other problems. A thorough inspection of the shingles should also include checking the gutters and fascia for debris buildup, which can lead to drainage problems.

Another critical aspect of a roof inspection is to look for the presence of algae. This may seem harmless enough, but if left untreated it can rot your shingles, and it’s best to remove it right away with a mixture of bleach and water.

Finally, you should examine the ridges of the roof for any cracking or balding shingles. This is a sign that it’s time to replace your roof, and can be expensive if not addressed early.

As a professional roofer, you can help your customers protect their homes from damage by encouraging them to schedule an annual or bi-annual roof inspection. In addition to identifying potential problems, you can also advise your customers on the best type of roof for their home and provide them with an estimate. During the inspection, you can also recommend that they contact their homeowners insurance company to make sure their policy is in good standing and that they have adequate coverage in case of a storm or other disaster.