Your roof is one of the most important structures of your home. According to most roofers it is the coverage that includes all materials and constructions necessary to support the roof and keeps your family safe from the outside weather. The types of roofing services include roofing inspection, leak repairs, damaged shingles restoration, roofing replacement, and shingle roofing. Additional repairs are gutter repairs and gutter cleaning.
Page Contents
- Types of roofing services and repairs
- Signs you need a new roof
- The importance and benefits of a new roof
- Tips for choosing the right roofing contractor
- The most common type of roofing materials
- How to care for your roof
- Additional ways to care for your roof
- What to expect from your roofing contractor
- Seven things to do for roof maintenance
- Cleaning the roof- 3 tips to follow for safety
- Frequently Asked Questions
Types of roofing services and repairs
Besides the above services and repairs, other roofing services are gutter solutions, gutter replacement, cool roof repair, and shingle roofing. Other services and repairs are roof leaks, pooled water, punctures and holes, shrinkage of roof material, cracking and blistering, snow and ice damage. and poor installation. Additional services are tree damage, clogged gutters, and poor maintenance.
Signs you need a new roof
There are signs that your roof may need to be replaced, such as shingle edges that are curled, clear areas where tiny specks are missing, cracked shingles, your roof is at least 20 years old, and the top looks old. Other signs are neighbors are getting new roofs, dark streaks, and moss. Moss can grow on roof surfaces that don’t get much sunlight.
The importance and benefits of a new roof
Your roof is essential and stands between the interior of your home and the outside, unpredictable world. Your roof provides a barrier against snow, rain, hail, ice, and debris. An old roof can leak, develop mold and mildew and cause other problems inside and out. A good top also adds value to your home and highlights your home’s curb appeal. Also, a good roof provides proper ventilation, sufficient attic insulation and prevents air leaks.
Tips for choosing the right roofing contractor
Many homeowners choose a contractor according to the price of their services; however, if you select a roof installation company according to a bargain price, you will probably end up with a substandard installation. Things to consider before hiring a roofing contractor are finding out how long they have been in business, checking their licensing and insurance, looking at their past work, and asking what happens if you are unsatisfied with their work. Additional points to consider are asking about unplanned repairs if they will tear off your old roof, and ask if the roofing contractor is an authorized installer.
The most common type of roofing materials
The most common roofing materials are asphalt shingles, metal roofing, clay and concrete tiles, slate and wood shingles, and shake. Other materials are solar, metal, concrete, green, rolled, membrane, built-up roofing, wood roofing,and synthetic composite shingles.
How to care for your roof
There are steps you and I can take that may prevent future problems and keep our roofs healthy and in good shape. For instance, inspect your roof and replace any broken, cracked, or missing shingles or tiles, check the seals around protrusions and check for cracks in your chimney. In addition, check the ridges and valley. Ridges and valleys are where the plane of your roof changes. Look also to see that the shingles in these areas overlap correctly; there are no tears or holes in the underlayment.
Most importantly, keep debris off your rooftop. When you see branches, leaves, or other debris on your roof, take them off. If they are allowed to collect and remain, they can hold moisture and cause your roof to rot.
Additional ways to care for your roof
Another important and easy step is to check out your attic. Look for wet or moldy insulation, moisture in the wooden underside of your roof, mold or mildew, or a musty odor in the air. Once or twice a year, look for dry shingles, soft spots in the roofing materials, and other signs of wear and tear.
What to expect from your roofing contractor
When your roof needs to be replaced, you need a roofing contractor you can trust, who can handle your project and get the job done in a timely and professional manner. Things to expect from your roofing contractor are the interview and consultation, evaluating your roofing system, giving you an estimate, and answering your questions and concerns. Other things to expect from the contractor are finalizing the contract and the company preparing your home, and the replacement job.
To conclude, your roof is one of the most important structures of your home. Talk to a roofing contractor and find out how he can help you with your roofing concerns. The result will give you a great-looking roof and peace of mind.
Seven things to do for roof maintenance
Roofs are made to withstand all kinds of weather conditions, but wear and tear will still occur. Follow our recommendations to keep your roof in good condition for the longest time.
1. Examine the shingles
Check out the shingles once a year, especially after inclement weather months. Water and wind aren’t the only elements that can damage your roof. The ultraviolet light of the sun can also alter the roof’s integrity. Ensure to inspect the shingles regularly to see if they’re still installed accordingly and do their jobs.
2. Unclog gutters
Clogged gutters cause many problems, with rotting wood and bubbling wall paint as some apparent effects. Bugs, debris, and leaves that rain washes up can overflow in clogged gutters. In time, water damages the roof and support beams. You don’t need to be a professional roofer to understand the price of repairs for solving such damage. We recommend you clean the gutters in the spring and fall.
3. Trim branches
If the trees in your garden have overhanging branches, you should trim them before the winter season. Ice, heavy snow, winds, and other elements can whip branches and cause damage to your roof and the entire house.
4. Insulate/ventilate
Effective insulation and ventilation of the roof reduce the risk of excessive moisture, which causes rot. Examine the attic every once in a while to see if there’s enough insulation. Ventilation is essential, and many homeowners skip the attic. “Sweat” of the attic is a common problem that requires solving. Warm air naturally rises, gets in contact with cold inside the roof’s plywood, and causes condensation. Don’t postpone managing the condensation– it’s the leading cause of mold growth and rotting plywood. Therefore, make sure that the vents provide the attic with adequate air circulation.
If your roof is adequately insulated, the risk of ice dams forming is low. Ineffective ventilation in the roof affects your comfort in the summer as it makes the house hotter than usual. In the absence of balanced airflow, the hot air will go up in the attic where the sun is so hot in the summer. Should the roof have proper ventilation, you won’t have to use the AC unit all the time. Needless to say, your electricity bills will go down as well.
5. Look for moss
Even if moss looks nice and gives a house a whimsical forest look, it can damage the roof. When you don’t manage moss growth, it will alter roofs, no matter the materials they’re made of wood, asphalt, or concrete.
Moss grows between shingles and builds up in time. As a result, it will lift the shingles away from the roof, and water seeps in effortlessly. In addition, moss absorbs moisture, which makes the damage even worse. It’s only a matter of time until leaks and wood-rotting will happen. Ensure you stay on top of moss damage by scrubbing it away or hiring someone to do it for you. You can sprinkle zinc sulfate granules every season to reduce the risk of moss growth.
6. Reduce the risk of ice dams
Heavy snowfall will cause ice dams and the roofs are prone to it. Warm air in the attic will warm the roof up and melt the snow. Later, when the water gets to the cold area of the roof, freezes again, and turns into ice dams. The damage continues as meltwater gets trapped and begins to seep through the roof; peeling paint and stains on the ceilings are effects of the water seeping.
You want to reduce the risk of ice dams by examining the insulation and ventilation. The attic has to stay cool in the winter so that ice dams don’t form.
7. Caulk the flashings
The strips of metal (lead, galvanized metal, or aluminum) are the flashings. They run along the roof’s joints and edges. Flashing’s purpose is to direct water/keep it out of areas that shingles cannot protect, such as roof penetrations. The kitchen and bathroom pipes/vents that penetrate the roof’s surface are such areas.
It would help if you used calks near skylights, walls, valleys, and chimneys. The installation affects how they will rust, lift, crack, or separate in time. If so, the protection of the roof is no longer operating efficiently.
You have to use caulk to seal the flushing in all places where it has become loose. Professionals recommend use pipe flashing, as it’s highly durable and doesn’t require maintenance. Additionally, it doesn’t contain rubber which doesn’t withstand the sun’s heat in time. This type of flashing doesn’t require caulk and recaulk.
Cleaning the roof- 3 tips to follow for safety
Cleaning the roof is vital for its condition and durability. Many homeowners climb up and use leaf blowers to remove the debris from the roof. If the footing is solid and you’re extra careful, you can do it too. When cleaning the roof, we strongly advise you to keep in mind the following rules:
1. Always walk carefully
When cleaning your roof, make sure not to step on peaks as you can crush shingles. Be careful not to walk on damaged spots that a large branch may have caused. The risk of falling in the attic is high when you’re not extra careful.
2. Don’t clear in bad weather
Never clear the roof in inclement weather. Never wear smooth-bottomed or open-topped footwear when removing leaves, debris, etc., from your roof. By not doing so, you risk falling or slipping. Always secure yourself so that the risk of falling is null.
3. Don’t use scraping implements
Shovels or any other type of scraping implements don’t make good tools to clean the roof. When using such tools, you risk pulling and even damage the shingles. They can also catch vent flushing or gutters, pick up the edges, and cut through your shoes’ soles.
Should you plan on using power washers, be sure of what you’re doing. When not used properly, they can remove the shingles’ protective outer layer and wet the surface—you can injure yourself and damage the roof. Expensive repairs will be much needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will a roof last?
The materials used for the roof, weather conditions, and level of care you give to your roof impact its durability. Copper, slate, and tile roofs will last more than 50 years. If your roof is made with a wood shake, the roof won’t need replacing for thirty years. Fiber cement shingles last for 25 years, whereas asphalt shingle/composition roofs hold over two decades.
How often should you clean the roof?
Typically, you should call professionals for roof cleaning once a year. When professionals clean the roof, they can also spot any problems from the early beginning. If your roof is in top condition or is only a couple of years old, you should clean the roof once every two years or so.
What’s the minimum schedule for preventive roof examinations?
If you want to keep the roof damage to a minimum, you should have it checked out at least twice a year. You or professional roofers should do it in the spring after the winter season and at the end of the fall. You should always examine the roof before winter comes.
How much does roof maintenance cost?
Typically, you will pay anywhere from $150 to $1,500 for minor repairs and between $1,500 and $7,000 for major repairs. $950 is the national average cost for roof repair. The materials necessary for repair work, level of work, and whether you hire professionals or not are factors that impact the final cost of roof repairs.
Is roof cleaning expensive?
Most homeowners will pay between $374 and $605 to clean roofs. We don’t recommend you wash the roof on your own but hire professionals instead. When you hire a professional roof cleaner, you save time, energy and eliminate the risk of injuring yourself and damaging the roof. The national average for roof cleaning is around $500.
