With the busy-ness of daily life, it can be very easy to forget about your home’s roof. But this is your property’s most essential asset, and you should take steps to safeguard that investment. While most asphalt roof systems will protect your home for about 20 years, the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) suggests inspecting your roof regularly twice a year – ideally in spring and fall.
Check out these roof inspection tips and suggestions.
- Homebuyers beware. The best time to start any roof assessment is just before your closing date. When you obtain a professional roof inspection before the home is officially yours, you are saving yourself a lot of time, hassle and costly repairs down the road.
- Trim back trees. Check for leaning and overhanging branches, which can scratch and gouge your roof, puncturing and damaging your shingles. Trim these back and remove any branches that get too close to your roof.
- Clean leaves and other debris. Leaves and other debris tend to clog your gutter system and cause a buildup of water that can reach the attic, interior living spaces or behind the fascia boards. To ensure you have a free-flowing drainage system, clean your roof at least twice each year. Check for sagging gutters or damaged drain components, repairing and replacing as needed.
- Ensure the roof can breathe. Heat and moisture cause sheathing and rafting to rot without proper ventilation. It can also cause your roofing materials to buckle and insulation to lose their effectiveness, causing your roofing system to become ineffective.
- Include insulation. The smartest way to get appropriate ventilation and airflow is by ensuring proper and sufficient insulation. To protect your home from heat gain or loss, include a gap-free layer of insulation on the floor of the attic as well as a vapor retarder under the insulation near the ceiling. This will prevent moisture from rising into the attic.
- Inspect after storms. After every big storm, check for water stains and weak shingles.
- Power wash regularly. If you see your roof is becoming streaked with mold, algae or fungus, causing streaking on your roof, you should get it soft washed. If you leave those substances on there, they can deteriorate the roofing material and shorten the life of your roof.
- Check for shingle damage. Exposure to daily wear and tear from the elements can cause shingles to get torn off or become dilapidated. This makes your roof structure and interior living areas vulnerable to leaking and rotting.
- Quality roofing quotes. When repairs extend beyond what you can reasonably do as a DIY project, get at least two quotes from local roofing professionals so you can determine the best combination of price and quality.
In the end, it’s important to never neglect your roof, as it provides your whole home with the protection it needs.
Contact Ferris Roofing
To get a free quote on residential roofing, contact us in Fort Worth at 817-595-0500.