The summer is a time of year that brings sunshine and more chances for severe weather with its long days. And while the warmer temperatures are great for outdoor activities like swimming and barbecues, they can also be very hard on your roof. With so many things to do outside this season, you may not think about taking care of your home’s roof until there’s an emergency – but it pays to stay proactive when it comes to protecting what matters most!
That’s why we wanted to share our checklist of simple maintenance tasks you should complete while the summer days are here.
Check Your Attic
The first place to check for roof damage is in your attic. Ideally, you shouldn’t find any signs of water, moisture, mold, rot, or mildew. A dry attic is a sign that your roofing is likely in stable condition.
If you notice any potential water damage, you’ll need to investigate further to get to the root of the problem. Areas where you might be experiencing issues include damaged shingles or missing flashing around vents, chimneys, skylights, and dormers.
Another potential problem areas are rain diverters. If water finds its way past these systems and onto your roofing, it can potentially cause damage in just minutes! For homes with a flat roof or a sloped roof with no gutters, this is especially important.
Inspect The Gutters
Your gutters play a very critical role in keeping your roofing system durable and resilient against water damage. Inspect gutters regularly for debris – especially after heavy rains.
Don’t overlook downspouts! If you notice debris, fallen leaves, or other materials are creating clogs or buildups, take steps to clear these items away.
By doing so, you’re taking steps to prevent rainfall from seeping into the fascia and structural sheathing of your roof – which can lead to costly repairs later on.
You should also stay aware of the gutters themselves and look at them for any signs of wear and tear or damage, like tears in the material or rust building up where water is flowing.
If you notice any defects you think might become problematic, don’t delay having a professional check it out as a precautionary measure.
Check For Missing, Defective, Or Dislodged Shingles
Missing and loose shingles create an entrance point for moisture to seep through the interior of your home. Factors contributing to loose or missing roofing shingles include high winds, age, poor installation, or getting impacted by flying debris such as fallen tree limbs.
In some cases, defective shingles are very easy to identify. But other times, it might be harder to spot. Signs of bad shingles include curling or peeling edges, discoloration in the material, and curving when you press on them.
Suppose your shingles are defective for any reason at all. In that case, even if it’s just a few, you should have professionals repair them as quickly as possible to avert potential long-term damage that could come from leaking water into your home.
Chimney Seal Inspection
Another potential entry point for water on your roof is the area around your chimney. Again, inadequately sealed flues can result in water leaking inside.
The best way to inspect your seals is to hire a professional. They’ll complete a thorough review of the top of your chimney, following it all the way around until you get to the starting point. Then, if there are any gaps between bricks or seals, they can make and needed repairs.
Check Skylights For Tight Seals
While skylights are an excellent feature that bathes your home in natural light, they also can be a vulnerability if the seals degrade. Broken skylight seals can lead to water penetration and not only damage your roof but also increase the likelihood of mold growth.
A professional skylight inspection will ensure all seals are watertight and that debris around the edges of each seal gets removed using a vacuum cleaner or dust brush. Next, they’ll check to ensure there aren’t any gaps between panes on adjacent glass panels.
Generally, homeowners with skylights should get them professionally inspected annually. But, of course, this isn’t a hard nor fast rule. You always have the option to get them checked as often as you feel necessary.
Seal Potential Nesting Spots
If there are open areas in your eaves, you should have repairs made as soon as possible to avoid creating an ideal environment for rodents and birds to nest. Rodents cause a range of problems, from eating holes in insulation to damaging shingles and other roof materials.
Bird droppings can be damaging to shingles due to their acidic nature. As they move about – flying to and from their nest, they leave droppings behind. Unfortunately, their waste leaves slowly releasing chemicals that degrade the roof materials over time.
Small rodents may burrow through your roof and are known to chew through electrical insulation. In extreme cases, this breach can potentially ignite a fire. In addition, squirrels can chew through the roofing, and motivated raccoons will claw their way through, leaving a trail of roofing devastation.
By shaving a roofing professional seal potential nesting area, you can nip this potential threat in the bud.
One thing to always do is put your safety first! While you might be motivated to jump up on the roof to figure out what’s going on, this is a job best left to professionals.
Not only do professional roofers have the tools and expertise to identify issues and make needed repairs, but they also follow all the best practices for job site safety, including using fall protection and safety gear.
When hiring a professional to care for your roof, make sure they are licensed and insured. Double-check that the company carries all the needed certifications for working with your style of shingles, like GAF Master Elite Certification, and ask if they offer any guarantees on their work.
When you need an expert, Flynn Roofing is available to help with all your roofing repair and maintenance needs in Norwell, Hingham, Newton, Wellesley, Holliston, and Dover, Massachusetts. Contact us today!