As the calendar turns and seasons change, it often serves in helping people be reminded to complete certain tasks in or around their home. Similar to the common pattern of changing your smoke detector batteries along with corresponding time changes twice a year, each season – fall, winter, spring and summer – poses a unique threat to your roof and homeowners need to be prepared to locate any issues. Making sure that your property is protected can be an important step to keeping both your family and valuables safe in the future.
Too many times people forget about the importance of their roof and maintaining a routine check on how it is performing. Homeowners pay attention to their yards, car maintenance, inside upkeep and cleanliness but far too often forego giving any special attention to perhaps the most important piece of construction on an entire site – the roof. Looming overhead and protecting a home from the outside elements 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the roofs job is never finished but the seasonal change serves as a great opportunity to give yours the inspection it readily deserves.
Denver’s Roof Company, Arvada Roofing & Construction advise following some key components of routine roof maintenance that can help to ensure you, your loved ones, and your possessions remain protected.
Inspection
Depending on the style and construction material of your roof, in addition to whether or not it is a commercial or residential property, will go a long way in determining how to conduct a proper roof inspection. For most, a residential roof will be the answer but for anyone there is one critical component to the overall process. Any roofing issues are easier handled when they are detected early. Instead of waiting for potential damage to compound and cause structural or integrity issues, a consistent time table for conducting proper roof inspections can help to locate any potential problem areas before it’s too late.
Getting the help of a professional is also important. Homeowners often take a look around the house without ever stepping foot on the roof itself and determine since there are no obvious signs of damage that everything is good. Unfortunately, this is often not the case. Depending on what type of conditions the roof has been subjected to over its recent history, some factors which could potentially cause a problem down the line may not be noticeable to the untrained eye – particularly from ground level.
Climbing a ladder and taking a close-up look at the roof can go a long way in spotting any deficiencies, which is often why hiring the assistance of professional help is always recommended.
Potential Storm Damage
Depending on how many storms and to what severity a roof has been subjected will have an impact on the lifespan of any material. No matter the construction components of your roof, each needs to be inspected periodically to locate any issues. Of course, after a storm with large hailstones or heavy winds, an immediate overlook is warranted but less severe weather can also have an impact on a roof over time.
Cleaning
Fall also presents the perfect time for a roof cleaning. Yes, just as you wash your car or pressure wash a house, the roof too can need a good cleaning from time to time. If not, algae, moss, and other materials may begin to form on the roof and although the don’t pose any immediate dangers, they do produce an unsightly appearance.
One thing to remember when washing algae and moss off a roof is to not use a pressure washer. These may come in handy for other substances, but shingled roofs may be damaged by the amount of pressure behind these types of cleaning. Instead a simple mix of water and bleach is recommended.
Leaves and Debris
Another fall occurrence is the build up of leaves and other potential debris on a rooftop. Depending on what is found, it may not pose any immediate danger but a long-term stay could build up more problems, especially if the weather changes. Piled up leaves can prevent water from running off into the gutter system, leading to pooling and perhaps leak issues, whereas other items – limbs, etc. could mean added weight on certain areas.
Immediate removal of any such items should be taken by the property owner to help prevent any potential issues.
Flashing Check
Roof flashing is an important component to any structure. Preventing water damage at corners or other openings – chimneys, overhangs, etc. – these areas need a quality inspection to ensure there are no leaks. Damage or simply wear from constantly being exposed to the elements could potentially cause a breach and it is extremely helpful to address any issues early rather than after the flashing has potentially failed.
Vent Check
Much like the flashing, when vents are installed an opening has been created within the roof or overhang. Ensuring these possible problem areas have tight seals and are not in danger of any leakage is extremely important.
With a wealth of knowledge and experience, quality service has been our priority in Denver and the surrounding area for years as we handle any and all roofing, gutter, or siding needs. Arvada Roofing and Construction has been completing roof installations, evaluations, and multiple other exterior household projects or associated services for nearly two decades. Their highly trained experts can provide an estimate on any repair, remodel, or now construction project, if needed, as well as any inspection you wish to have completed. Should you find yourself in a situation where you are concerned about the effectiveness of your roof or already have an issue, we are here to help. Our certified and extremely knowledgeable staff is available to handle any construction or roofing job and provide a variety of other services such as seamless guttering systems, or any potential damage analysis thought to be caused by severe weather for the purposes of insurance reporting. Contact us today online or call 303-432-2753 for your free estimate on any of the above mentioned projects!