Up on the Rooftop
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Up on the Rooftop

The next time you walk outside, take a moment to gaze up at your roof. What do you see? Do you see even shingles that are all laying flat? Or do you see shingles that are starting to curl and that are covered in moss? You can tell a lot about the condition of your roof just by looking at it. If you are at all concerned about the state of your roof, then your first call should be to a roofing contractor. They can evaluate the situation and recommend repairs or replacement as needed. Learn more about roofing and roofing contractors here on this website.

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Up on the Rooftop

Think Spring: A Roofing Inspection And Maintenance Checklist

Lori Silva

Spring has sprung! Take a little time to admire the new flowers and breathe in the fresh air, and then get down to business with home maintenance — and more specifically, roof maintenance. After all, your roof protects the rest of your home from water and other dangers, so you need to take great care of it. Here are the major tasks that deserve a spot on your spring roof inspection and maintenance checklist.

Check for lifted shingles.

If you're comfortable on a ladder, climb up there. If not, just get a good look at the roof from the ground, moving around as needed to see as much of the roof as possible. Do you see any shingles that look like they are lifting along the edges? Even though they are still on the roof, this is an issue. Give a roofing contractor a call and have them replace those shingles before they fall off completely in the first thunderstorm.

Check for peeling flashing.

Flashing, that metal sheeting around chimneys and such, tends to peel after ice infiltration in the winter. You don't want rainwater running down behind it, so have a roofing contractor come cement it back in place or replace it.

Clean your gutters.

Unless there's a reason you can't climb a ladder, you can do this on your own. Use a gloved hand or a small trowel to dig the gunk out of the gutters so they run freely when spring storms come in. Gutters are your roof's first defense against water damage, so they need to be working well.

Look for granules in the gutters.

When you are cleaning out the gutters, keep your eyes out for granules in your gutters. These look like large coffee grounds. If you do see these granules, they are coming off your shingles, which means you will need to replace your roof soon — maybe not this year, but within the next 5, for sure. Have a roofer come take a look.

Examine the attic for leaks.

If there are tiny leaks now, you want to take care of them before spring storm season. Venture into the attic and look for little drops of water, moist insulation, and mold growth — these are all signs of little leaks.

If you complete all of these tasks this spring, you'll have done a very good thing for your roof's future. Enjoy your year!

For more information, contact a roofing service today.


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