You’ve heard the saying, “I need a roof over my head,” which means having the safety and security of a place to live. But is your residential roof getting the respect it deserves? After all, it is not just any roof over your head but one that can protect your home from the elements and should last a long time.
Hi, my name is Jason Kersch, and I’m a 4th generation owner in my family’s 103-year-old home improvement company. As we kick off this year’s summer season, we like to remind homeowners to not take their roof for granted and to remember the old saying; “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” in other words, it’s easier to maintain your roof and address any issues now than to have to repair leaky ceilings, water damage or even to replace the roof later.
If your roof is exposed to direct sunlight for most of the day, UV rays and heat damage to shingles could be a concern. If your roof is shielded by tall trees with more shade than the sun, moisture and mildew damage could become an issue. If last Winter’s snowfall were significant and it took a while for the snow to melt, persistent snow accumulation can also lead to hidden water damage.
Here are a few tips for assessing the condition of your roof:
Do you know how old your roof is?
While quality roofing materials (called shingles) can last up to twenty years, there are underlying factors that can significantly reduce roofing shingles’ longevity: bad installation and inferior materials. So how do you know? While your roof is not easily accessible, visual inspection even from the ground and inspecting your ceiling/walls interior can go a long way.
EXTERIOR roofing inspection:
🛑WARNING🛑: Do not climb on a ladder! Use binoculars for closer inspection.
While inspecting your roof from your backyard and from the front of your home (you want both views as the roofing is sloping), look for the following signs of potential wear-and-tear or trouble:
- Lifting, broken, or missing shingles can be caused by age, weather, or animals
- A collection of granules (the pebble-like material that protects the shingle) that have come loose
- Nail pops (the nails that originally fastened the shingle back out and start coming up through the shingle)
INTERIOR roofing Inspection:
If you have a ranch-style home inspect the ceiling and adjacent walls. If you have a multi-story home, go to the top floor and do the same. If you have an attic, it will give you a closer look at the inside of the roof.
What should you be looking for?
- Obvious signs of water may be due to a missing shingle or around pipes and vents where the seals dry out and break.
- Rotted or delaminated wood
- Daylight – this may sound funny, but it is the best way to detect roofing damage (if you see daylight, it means that water, snow and possibly animals can come in)
If you see some of the above signs of damage and your roof is older than ten years, ask a professional roofing company to inspect the roof. Remember, water damage presents the highest risk when it comes to a leaky roof – water always flows downwards and will find a way, any way, to do so! While a wet spot on a ceiling is an obvious sign of a leak, water can flow downward behind a wall and reappear in the kitchen or even the basement. Yes, you may get to play detective, but when you find the cause, it can save you thousands of dollars.
Should you power wash your roof to get it ready for the summer?
We highly discourage you from doing that! Powerwashing is unnecessary if your roof has been installed correctly by following the manufacturer’s installation instructions, including installing the proper protective layers. A power washer can damage the roof by loosening shingles, thereby creating an opening for water to accumulate and get into the house.
If you’re not sure about the condition of your roof, siding, and windows, give us a call, and we’ll be happy to help. 1.877.OK.MAJOR (1.877.656.2567)
