Give Your Roof Some Love!
Spring is a time when much gets done around our home. Decluttering, testing of smoke/ carbon monoxide detectors and a thorough check of our home’s exterior, particularly our roof. Before the end of May, anything roof related is examined, replaced and/or updated.
Some notables:
SHINGLES
Check for loose or missing shingles. Do they look blistered, curled, or buckled? If so, investigate further. Be vigilant! Water penetration can cause a plethora of problems, and not just to the roof.
GUTTERS
Clean them out! Debris from the Fall and Winter months can clog gutters, hampering water drainage. Consider gutter guards which can prevent collection of pine needles, shingle grit, seed pods, and much more.
FLASHING
Check flashing, which is the material installed around joints such as chimneys and skylights, to prevent the passage of water into the structure. Look for a proper seal and no rust.
SOFFITS/FASCIA
Not sure what a soffit is? It’s the exposed siding underneath your roof’s overhang.
How about the fascia? A fascia goes hand-in-hand with the soffit. It’s the area directly above the soffit, the area where the gutters are placed. Fascia is very visible and should be in good shape.
TREES
Trim and prune trees regularly to keep them from overgrowing towards your home. Scratching of branches can lead to lifting of shingles and many other problems.
INSULATION/VENTING
Proper insulation and venting of the attic helps keep the roof in good condition. Take a peak into the attic. Does the insulation look good? Not sure, have it inspected.
PESKY PESTS
Over the winter months, rodents and other pesky pests may have made their way into your attic and can burrow, tear shingles, build nests etc. Remove nests and seal holes immediately. These pests are great at finding their way back. Make sure to find all sources and close them off.
Roof maintenance is very important and why it was added to our Spring-time checklist. Catching a problem early or better yet prevent it, reduces the changes of costly repairs!!
