<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=2445357002353931&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">

Roofing Tips, Tricks and Ideas

Spring Roof Maintenance Tips

Published by Pickard Roofing at
Categories

Winter can be hard on roofs. Winter is especially hard on older roofs that are getting close to the end of their service life. Now that winter is coming to an end, it's time to assess the potential damage done to your roof by the harsh winter weather, and seek repairs or get help if it's needed.

A simple roof inspection in the spring can fix problems before it causes costly damage. Once you've inspected your roof and identified potential problems, you'll know what needs to be fixed. This can make it easier to find a roofing specialist who can help you.

What should you be inspecting? Start with: shingles, flashing, gutters, downspouts, soffit or fascia.

Think your roof looks just fine? That's not surprising! Most roof damage occurs well before anyone on the ground notices. This is why getting an up-close inspection is so important. Once you get up close to your roof and start looking for problems, you'll be more likely to find the issues that could cause hundreds or thousands of dollars in damage.

Fixing before the rain arrives prevents a minor problem from turning into a major one. Here's what you need to know.

Inspect Your Roof

When you're inspecting your roof, this is what you should be looking for:

Loose, curling, or damaged shingles. Do you see any potential holes in the shingles on your roof? Do you see the shingles curling up along the edges, or cracked and damaged shingles? This is a sign that your shingles are nearing the end of their service life.

Nail pops. Sometimes nails push up from beneath shingles, causing the shingle to rise up with the nail. This can easily lead to shingle damage, like tears and cracks. If the nail pops up all the way, then this could eventually lead to a lost shingle. Nails can easily be hammered back in place, if you identify the problem early enough.

Soffits, fascia, and vents. Check these areas for damage. Vents can become clogged or damaged by animals trying to enter your house.

Flashing. Flashing is what we call the strips of metal that line the edges of your chimney, vents and more. Flashing can become easily damaged and may need to be replaced sooner than the other parts of your roof.

Fungus or algae. Fungus and algae on your roof can cause stains. This damage is mostly cosmetic, but it can impact your home's curb appeal.

Chimney. Inspect your chimney for cracks, missing mortar, deteriorating brick, damaged flashing and other signs of a problem.

Perform Basic Maintenance

Performing basic maintenance on your roof and gutters can help your home be ready for the coming summer, fall and winter. Regular seasonal maintenance can prolong the life of your roof and protect you from unexpected leaks and interior damage. Below are some of the basic maintenance that many homes need to be performed annually:

  1. Perform gutter maintenance. Clean out debris. Inspect your gutters for damaged caulking or leaks. Once the debris is cleaned out, you can find the leaks by spraying your gutters with a hose and watching the water drain out.
  2. Remove moss or any debris from the roof. Do NOT pressure wash your roof. Instead, use a moss-specific cleaner for your roof and follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Know When to Get Help. Contact Pickard Roofing

Getting on your roof is dangerous if you're not trained or you don't have the right tools. Don't try to inspect your own roof if you can't do it safely. Hire a professional roofer with the proper harnesses, PPE and safety training to do the job right.

Pickard Roofing has the right tools, and the skills to get the job done right. We offer affordable roofing inspections and repairs.

Contact us to learn more about our spring maintenance and annual maintenance plans. Have a damaged roof? Wondering if you should repair or replace it? Check out our recent article to find out for yourself.

Get a Roofing Evaluation

 

At Pickard Roofing, we think Design. Craft. Renew. We are experienced in all types of roofing systems- and provide the right roofing design and selective craftsmanship for renewing our customer’s assets. We invite sustainable building customers to give us a call for your free evaluation. For over 90 years Pickard Roofing Company has installed countless metal, tile, slate, TPO, EPDM, and all types of shingle roofing in the Triangle. Our services include residential, commercial, custom architectural metal fabrication, and historical renovation.