A home is sure to be the one most significant investment that you are likely to make in your lifetime. Regularly scheduled maintenance protects your home from a leaking roof during all seasons. Roofing provides insulation from the heat and cold, and shelter from the elements. (It’s worth noting that a well-maintained residential or commercial roof helps to stabilize overall energy costs.)
Preserve Your Roof System
Today’s modern roofing systems are built to endure. New roofing, depending on the type, can last for as long as two to five decades after initial installation. Regular inspections help to prolong the lifespan of your roof by identifying issues early. Once identified, you can take proactive steps to prevent more significant problems from occurring. Ideally, property owners should inspect their roofs at least twice annually.
As you can imagine, long-term exposure to direct sunlight, wind, snow, and rain can wreak havoc on roofing systems, even ones that are newly installed.
During a roofing inspection, things to be on the lookout for include:
Rust
Rust is the enemy of metal. With proper care and attention, rust doesn’t have to pose a risk to your roofing. If you notice rusty screws, they should get replaced with new untarnished screws. By doing so, you don’t have to worry about long-term damages that rusted screws contribute to causing.
Metal roof owners could see a higher risk of rust. However, today’s modern metal roofing is durable. Weather-resistant coatings and guaranteed metal roofing offer extended protection against corrosive rust forming on metal roofs.
Damaged Shingles
Faulty shingles could pose as a single point of failure that results in a leaky roof. Roof leaks are inconvenient and can result in water damages, flooding, or the formation of black mold within your home. Damaged shingles should get replaced or repaired as soon as possible.
Should you decide to wait, casualty associated with water damage could add more expenses and repairs. The more significant damage there is to shingles, the higher the potential for more extensive problems in the interior of your home.
Flashing
A roofing system uses multiple components. Flashing is one of these critical components. The function of flashing is to seal bends and cracks on the roof, preventing moisture and heat from penetrating these areas. A typical example of where flashing gets used is in the area around the chimney.
Visible gaps, cracks, rust, or other imperfections in flashing are problematic. Flashing impacts how water, snow, and ice run off the roof. If any of these exist, they provide the opening needed to leak inside your home.
Keep Trees Trimmed
While tall trees add beauty and shade to your home and landscaping, they may also pose a threat to your home. In windy or stormy conditions, large branches pose a danger to your roof and your home.
To safeguard your home from damages as a result of broken tree branches, trim all large branches that are close to your roof. Not only can large branches cause damage to your roof, but they could also cause structural damage to your home.
While the fees associated with trimming trees can vary, this service generally costs between four to seven hundred dollars. The good news is that avoiding damages from fallen limbs saves you inconvenience and added expenses.
Inspect After Stormy Weather
After a storm that carries high winds, a deluge of rain, hail, or snow, there is always a chance your roof could sustain damages. To make sure that your roof wasn’t negatively impacted by storm activity, do a quick inspection from the ground up.
Confirm that none of your storm gutters are bent or misshaped. If you notice bent or misshaped gutters, this could be an indication that your roof sustained damages. If this is the case, investigate further by checking for damaged shingles. Before doing any repair work, take pictures.
In some cases, homeowners insurance covers storm damages, so you may not need to pay for the entire repair out of pocket. Photos help substantiate your insurance claim.
When To Contact A Professional Roofer
When it comes to issues related to a leaking roof, it’s always a wise idea to contact professional roofers who specialize in roofing repair. Professional roof repair eliminates the need to have the tools, skills, and required materials to make repairs. There’s no reason to be in harm’s way by getting on the roof to inspect it yourself.
The best time to call Flynn Roofing, is the first time you notice signs of potential water damage in your home. Indications of a leaking roof include bubbles, discolorations, or stains on the wall or ceilings. (If your home has sustained extensive water damages, water remediation services could be required to restore the interior of your home to pre-damage condition. The cost of roofing repairs does not include any expenses related to water removal or remediation. Check your homeowner’s insurance policy for coverage.)
Your roofing system helps to keep the inside of your home more comfortable all year round. By taking steps to inspect it regularly, you can sidestep significant repairs that result from oversight.
Contact The Professionals At Flynn Roofing Co.
If you have a leaking roof in the Newton, Wellesley, Needham, Hingham MA areas, give us a call first! We offer free estimates on all services. Since 1977, people have relied on us for their commercial and residential roofing needs. Contact us today.