Repairs to Look for on Your Roof
As you prepare your house exterior for the warmer weather and do away with the damage that winter may have left behind, don’t forget about your roofing -- this is a mistake that many homeowners make. After all, most of your roof is often out of sight, and it’s easy to focus more on your siding, deck, and landscape since these are much more accessible and visible. However, your property’s roof is the crown that keeps environmental threats from doing serious damage. If there’s a breach in this canopy, you can expect to encounter problems both outside and inside your home. Winter weather can be especially rough on your roofing -- heavy snow, biting winds, freezing temperatures, etc., might leave your roof in a state of disrepair by the time spring returns. So, neglecting to inspect your roof after winter can set you up for a spring and summer filled with expensive repairs.
If you’ve never examined your roof before, you might not know what to look for or how to safely approach this task. While you can handle certain aspects of roof inspection, it’s always best to hire a professional who can get a clearer view of your roof’s strengths and weaknesses. Whether you do it yourself, hire a pro, or a bit of both, here are some key roofing concerns to watch for this spring.
Loose, Missing, and/or Damaged Shingles
Shingles make up the majority of your roof’s outer shell, so it’s usually pretty easy to spot these problems in particular, even if you’re inexperienced. That said, shingle issues come in many forms. Strong winds can loosen or strip shingles away entirely, leaving obvious openings. Shingles can also pry away from the roof due to ice damming, poor insulation, standard wear and tear, and other causes. Hail and falling debris (i.e., branches) can dent and puncture shingles. Discolored and/or warped shingles might point to moisture intrusion. The list goes on.
Shedding Shingles
The shingle-related problems outlined above aren’t the only ones to watch for. Asphalt shingles will shed their grainy texture over time -- this is normal. That said, if you notice piles of granules in your gutters or on the ground, something more sinister might be at play. Hail damage is one of the primary causes of this severe shedding, and the affected shingles should be inspected, repaired, and/or replaced depending on professional recommendation.
Faulty Flashing
Flashing is installed wherever there are gaps between features on your roof to prevent moisture intrusion. For instance, you’ll often find flashing around chimneys, windows, and gutters. If your flashing is damaged, bent, or partially missing, these portions of your roof are more susceptible to environmental threats. In some cases, flashing flaws are easy to spot by a layman, but other issues are more subtle and require a professional eye. Either way, flashing repairs must be made on the roof, so you’ll want expert assistance to get the job done safely and correctly.
Deficient Drip Edge
One of the main purposes of any roof is to prevent water from lingering on the property. The sloped nature of a standard roof allows gravity to do its job, but drip edges provide further assurance in this regard. This specialized type of angled flashing is placed over a fascia board to guide falling water into the gutter and away from your home. In addition to keeping moisture away from your home, drip edges can also help prevent pests from gaining entry into your attic and stabilize your roof overall. If you notice issues with your exterior house paint (i.e., staining, peeling, discoloration, etc.), it’s a good idea to check your drip edge for damage -- an improperly installed or worn down drip edge can cause water to fall down your home’s siding and into its foundation.
Fastener Flaws
Your roof’s components are held together by various fasteners like nails and screws. If these fasteners are missing, loose, bent, or damaged, then your roof won’t be as structurally sound or secure as it should be, which opens the door for moisture intrusion and other issues.
Shoddy Sheathing
We’re now getting into the more nitty gritty parts of roof inspections. Sheathing refers to the boards to which your shingles are attached. Because these boards are underneath your shingles, they’re not clearly visible from above (unless most of your shingles are missing), so identifying potential problems requires a professional’s eye. In fact, the best way to inspect sheathing is from below (i.e., the attic). Whatever the case may be, sheathing issues such as rot or physical damage can weaken the integrity of your roof as a whole, so having this element periodically inspected is vital.
Unreliable Underlayment
While shingles are attached to sheathing, there’s another feature sandwiched between these components to provide an additional waterproof barrier: underlayment. This synthetic material is even more challenging to inspect than sheathing because of its position. Fortunately, professionals have the tools and knowledge to take a close look at your roof’s sheathing to ensure that it’s not torn or displaced -- these issues increase the odds of moisture intrusion.
Installation Issues
Not all roofing problems are the result of environmental damage. In some cases, poor installation is to blame. Improperly laid starter strips and sloppy shingle nailing are two of the most pervasive issues here. The average person won’t be able to spot these particular issues, though you might notice the symptoms such as wood rot, shingle deterioration, etc. Reliable roofers can accurately assess such installation flaws and amend them.
What to Do After Roof Repairs
If you’re faced with plenty of roof repairs this season, the last thing you want is to go through it again. These repairs can be expensive and time-consuming, after all. The best way to prevent future roofing woes is through regular maintenance, which includes tasks such as:
Trimming branches near your home to mitigate falling debris
Keeping gutters clear and clean to allow for proper water flow away from roof and home
Ensuring proper ventilation and insulation in your home
Removing snow and ice from roof during winter
Caulking flashing to keep your roof well-sealed
Cleaning your roof via exterior power washing -- hire pressure washing services for this as improper technique can damage shingles and other roof components
...and more.
This preventative roofing maintenance will help keep your roof efficient, secure, and beautiful.
Review Your Roof This Spring
Your roof deserves just as much attention as any other part of your home this season. Take the time to conduct a thorough inspection so you can take care of all necessary repairs as soon as possible. If you need help checking your roof for damage in Nashville, Brentwood, or Franklin, TN, look no further than the painting, repair, and renovation experts at Nash Painting. To learn more about us, our services, and our values, call us at 615-829-6858 today!