When it comes to home continuation, somehow you always fail to remember about your roof, and it is unfortunately quite common. Your home’s roof is the first line of defense against storms and extreme weather, and shouldn’t be easily neglected. Leakage from the damaged roof can cause much more serious issues inside your home, that you are not even aware of. If you wait until the first sign of a leak appears in the ceiling, you are most likely already facing much larger problems such as structural issues, mold growth, and damaged insulation. Therefore, it is smart to have a roof examination done twice a year and after every serious weather event. This article will provide you with a couple of crucial expert tips on how to perform a thorough roof inspection on your own.
Safety first
Before you start doing anything, make sure you’re taking all the precautions necessary for a roofing inspection. There are many potentially dangerous situations and things to watch out for. If your home has at least a slightly inclined roof, even one wrong step or slip can send you tumbling down the incline and off the side of your house. If your roof is flat, then your job is much easier from the start. However, you should be careful of skylights as well as any soft, potentially rotted areas. Stay away from the edges as much as you can and If you are using a ladder to reach the roof, make sure it stays upright.
Equipment
While the point of inspecting the roof by yourself is saving money, there are some items you will need to get to make sure you stay safe while doing the inspection. Choosing the right ladder might be the most important step, as they can pose a greater risk than roofs. There are many types of ladders and each has different features, so it is essential to pick the one that suits your situation. According to experts from TopLineRoofingContractors.com, must-have items include a roof anchor, rope, lanyard, and safety harness and can be bought from your local hardware store. When it comes to footwear avoid anything uncomfortable and slippery.
Identify areas of damage
After you have successfully climbed on your house roof, you may start identifying areas of damage. Look for the spots covered with morass, algae, and piles of leaves. These are distinguished for causing expensive leaks. Keep an eye for missing, damaged, and aged shingles. They are the leading cause of roof damage and should be replaced right away. Also, they may get curled and buckled, due to hot air from attics which can put your roof and home at great chance for weather harm. Taking time to inspect your roof, allows you to catch minor issues before they turn into major issues.
Inspect flashings
Flashings are metal sheets added to the outside of any holes cut in your roof for skylights, windows, vents that direct the water preventing it from getting inside of the house. To make sure the flashing on your roof can effectively protect your home against water leaks, it is important to inspect and replace the caulk around flashing if needed. These can rust over time and get bent by small animals and debris, so it is important to inspect them thoroughly. If you find damage consider resolving the issue as soon as possible as it may lead to leakage.
Clean gutters
While you are already up there, it is convenient to do a bit of cleaning. One of the essential cleaning tasks is cleansing your gutters. It will keep your gutter system in good condition and will prolong the life of your roof. This is important because piling up leaves and other tree debris in the gutters results in creating moisture. It may even go upwards into roof sheathing and rafters, and cause more damage. This doesn’t take long, and it should be done once or twice a year. Make sure only to have somebody navigate you from the ground.
Remove moss and mold
Another important cleaning task includes taking care of moss and mold. Any discolored streaks on your roof mark the presence of either mold, mildew, or fungus that contribute to the deterioration of the roof materials. Moss, on the other hand, is easier to spot, and even though it may seem harmless, it has the ability to trap the moisture and thus cause leaks and even weakening in the home structuring. There are various solutions you can buy which are specially formulated to deal with rooftop mold or algae.
Inspecting your roof by yourself can be quite a challenging task, but doing it regularly can bring you peace knowing your home is properly protected. The tips mentioned above were meant to help you focus on the most important steps, and make the process much easier and smoother.
