You probably don’t spend a lot of time worrying about the condition of your roof. That’s understandable. Unless the roof has obvious damage, most homeowners assume everything is fine. Unfortunately, wear and tear will inevitably take their toll. For most homeowners, leaks are an unwelcome surprise. The good news is you can prevent leaks or at least anticipate them by taking a proactive approach to roof maintenance.
A regular roof maintenance program goes a long way in improving your roof’s durability and maximizing its longevity. By becoming aware of common roof issues and their solutions, you will be able to reduce the chance of costly roof leaks. In today’s post, Clear Choice Exteriors Findlay, the leading residential roofing contractor in Bowling Green, OH, discusses common roof issues and explains why you shouldn’t delay repairs.
Impact Damage
Wind-blown debris and hail can tear or puncture the shingles of your roof. These holes pave the way for leaks that can cause significant damage to your roofing system. Most of the time, however, impact from hail and other debris just knocks granules off the shingles. This is still a big problem because these granules protect the shingles from the sun’s rays. Without them, the heat from the sun can cause your shingles to become brittle.
Damage from hail and wind-blown debris is not always obvious. That’s why we highly recommend hiring a contractor to inspect your roof for damage after a storm. They can spot the subtle signs of impact damage and replace the bruised or cracked shingles. A good roofer will inspect every inch of your roof and look for the small signs of impact damage. They can also inspect the areas around the roof penetrations.
Damaged Roof Vents
The areas around roof penetrations are some of the most vulnerable parts of your roof. It’s rare for leaks to develop in open areas of uninterrupted shingles. In contrast, leaks can easily develop around roof vents, dormers, chimneys, skylights or anything else that projects out of your roof. Using a pair of good binoculars, try to check for cracked housings on your plastic roof vents. If you have metal roof vents, look for broken seams. As the leading choice for residential roof repair services in Bowling Green, OH, we recommend calling a roofer to replace the damaged vents.
Damaged Roof Cement
A good roofer uses metal flashing to prevent leaks and to cover the gaps in the areas where shingles meet other surfaces. Unfortunately, some roofers like to cut corners and just use roof cement. Check your roof for any signs of cracked roof cement. You need to hire a good roofer to fix this problem immediately because leaks can easily form once the roof cement hardens and cracks.
Lack of Kick-Out Flashing
Many roof problems stem from improper roof installation and shoddy contractors that cut corners. Some roofers just want to finish a job as quickly as possible so they don’t install kick-out flashing. However, kick-out flashing is incredibly important. Without it, roof runoff will flow down to the wall next to the roof edge. This runoff can end up behind the trim of any doors or window below the wall. As the top roof replacement service in Bowling Green, OH, we recommend calling a reputable roofer to inspect your roof and install kick-out flashing.
Damaged Vent Flashing
Your plumbing system has vent pipes that pass through and penetrate the roof. Since leaks are more common around roof vents, flashing is used to seal the areas surrounding the vents. There are two kinds of flashing: all-metal flashing with soft lead and a boot that relies on a tight rubber seal. The flashing around your roof vents needs to be replaced as soon as possible when it fails if you want to prevent roof leaks.
No Gutter Apron
When rain flows off the edge of your roof, some of the water clings to the underside of the shingle and drips toward the fascia. If your roofing system doesn’t have a gutter apron, then this means that the water will wick behind your gutters. If left unattended, this water can damage the fascia, soffits and roof sheathing. Fortunately, it’s possible to install a gutter apron under existing shingles. You just need to ask a roofing expert to do it for you.
Lack of a Chimney Cricket
A wide enough chimney can form a dam on your roof. Eventually, debris will build up behind that dam. This debris will then collect and hold moisture, which can cause flashing to rust and wood to rot. If your chimney is wider than 30 inches, then you need a chimney cricket. A chimney cricket is a small roof built behind the chimney. Its purpose is to direct water and debris around the chimney and off your roof.
Improper Chimney Flashing
Improperly flashed chimneys can cause your roof sheathing and framing to rot. A good roofer will use step flashing and counterflashing to completely seal the area surrounding your chimney. This is necessary because you can’t rely on caulk or roof cement to keep water out. Ask a trustworthy roofer to inspect the area surrounding your chimney and to install new flashing. They’ll install step flashing that will run up the sides of your chimney and then cover this step flashing with counterflashing.
The Importance of Regular Roof Inspections and Proper Roof Maintenance
You can spot some of these problems using a pair of good binoculars. For best results, however, you need a professional to climb up your roof and inspect every part of it. Hiring a roofing contractor to perform regular roof inspections and maintenance is incredibly important. It’s how you get the most out of your roofing system. A roof maintenance program is much more affordable than waiting for leaks to occur and then calling a company to fix them.
In addition, regular maintenance will also make your roof last longer and perform better. A good roofer will identify vulnerable areas on your roof and prevent problems before they can even begin. They will greatly reduce the risk of roof leaks. This ensures that your roofing system lasts as long as possible. Regular maintenance also makes your roof look clean and neat, improving its appearance.
Finding the Right Roofing Contractor
There are certain qualities you need to look for when hiring a roofing company to maintain your roof. They need to be a local company with many years of experience and certifications from top roofing manufacturers. Experienced roofing companies are much less prone to committing roofing errors. Local companies know how to protect your roof because they understand the demands of the local climate. Manufacturer’s certifications are important because they prove that the roofing company has met or exceeded rigorous standards.
Once you understand what roofing issues to look for, you’ll be able to keep your roof well-maintained and prevent roof leaks. If you plan to keep your roof in good condition, then we highly recommend finding and working with a trustworthy and competent roofing contractor. They will be able to quickly identify and repair issues with your roof. They might also offer a regular roof maintenance program, giving you peace of mind.