If you don’t regularly inspect your roof, small problems can become costly. Tiny holes in shingles can lead to rot and leaks.
A roofing professional will look at shingle condition, checking for brittle, buckling, and blistering. They will also check for popped nails that need to be hammered back in place. Contact Roofing Corpus Christi for professional help.
Gutter systems serve the vital role of collecting rainwater and directing it away from a home’s foundation. When gutters are filled with debris, they can clog and overflow. This allows rainwater to seep into soffits and the interior walls of the home, causing costly damage. It is recommended to clean gutters at least twice per year. Those with overhanging trees will need to clean their gutters more often, especially after storms.
Using a ladder, climb to the roof and begin by removing the large branches and leaves that have collected in the gutter. Next, use a garden hose to flush the remaining dirt and debris from the gutters and downspouts. If a clog exists, use a garden snake or power washer with a fine-spray nozzle to remove the blockage.
Aside from cleaning the gutters, you should also inspect them for damage and wear. If a section of the gutter is loose or hanging, it will need to be replaced. Also, look for any signs of rust or corrosion on the downspouts and fascia boards. Loose or damaged flashing should be repaired as well.
When cleaning the gutters, it is best to start on one side of the house and work your way around. This will help you stay organized and avoid stepping on the shingles. A good ladder, with a stabilizer, will make this job much easier and safer. If you are unsure about doing this job yourself, a professional can be hired to clean the gutters for you.
After you’ve cleaned the gutters, take a close look at the soffit and fascia. A damaged soffit is one of the most common causes of attic moisture problems. When the soffit becomes damaged, it allows rain to bypass the gutter system and reach the rafters and roof boards. This can lead to costly water and mold damage. This is why it’s important to keep the soffit in good condition. Keeping it free from leaves, dirt and ice will ensure proper ventilation and prevent moisture buildup. This will also keep ice dams from forming in the winter, which can cause water to back up and leak through the roof and into the home’s interior.
Check the Soffit and Fascia
Despite their critical role in protecting the edges of the roof and providing ventilation, soffits and fascia are often ignored until major issues arise. Fortunately, there are several telltale signs that it’s time to replace or repair soffits and fascia.
A common sign that soffits and fascia are in need of replacement is moisture or insect damage. Moisture damage can include warping, rotting, mold and mildew. Detecting and repairing these issues promptly can prevent their spread to other parts of the home. Insect infestations can be even more severe. They can chew holes through the soffit and fascia boards, causing further structural damage. They may also chew through wiring, posing a fire hazard to the homeowners.
Inspecting your soffit and fascia boards for insect infestations should be done on a regular basis. If you notice any holes, discoloration or other visual evidence of pests, it’s important to contact a professional to inspect and repair the areas as soon as possible.
Another important thing to keep in mind when assessing your soffit and fascia is that they are responsible for providing ventilation to attics and the surrounding area. If you have soffits and fascia that are damaged or blocked, it’ll likely lead to further damage to your roof and a host of other problems throughout the home.
Checking the soffit and fascia for moisture or insect damage is a relatively easy task. Simply grab a screwdriver and tap the surface of the soffit lightly but firmly. If pieces come off, it’s likely you have dry rot and should contact a professional for repairs.
Lastly, it’s essential to regularly inspect your soffits and fascia for pests that can damage the wood and cause serious issues for the rest of the home. Cracks or gaps in the soffit and fascia can provide entry points for mice, rats and other pests to invade and do significant damage. They can gnaw through the boards, damage insulation and wiring, leave droppings that can become a biohazard to the home’s residents, and more. Inspecting for cracks, discoloration or other signs of pests can help prevent these costly problems.
Trim Tree Branches
Proper pruning of trees is an important part of maintaining roof clearance and reducing wind resistance. Pruning can also help retain the shape of a tree, reduce weight on heavy branches, and encourage healthy growth. For best results, all cuts should be made using hand shears or a saw with an extension pole, unless the branch is too large for these tools. It’s important to avoid rubbing cuts that may damage the bark of the tree. For larger branches, you may need to use a saw or a lopper with a pole pruner attachment to reach higher levels.
Whenever you cut a branch, make sure you take the time to do it correctly. The first step is to undercut the branch. This is done by sawing upward about halfway through the branch, about a foot beyond where it intersects the trunk of the tree. This removes some of the weight from the branch and prevents it from snapping off at the trunk. The second cut is to make a downward cut all the way through the branch, about an inch or two farther out from the first undercut. This removes the remaining weight of the branch and allows the bark to heal quickly. The final cut is to saw through the branch stub, making sure to leave the branch collar (the slight swelling or ridge at the base of a branch) untouched. This prevents water damage to the collar, which is necessary for a quick callus to develop and seal the wound.
It’s also a good idea to thin the crown of your tree to allow air movement and light penetration, as well as reduce weight on large branches. Thinner trees are also less likely to be damaged by winds. However, one wrong cut can kill a tree. It’s recommended to only remove about a quarter of the canopy at a time.
A “drop crotch” cut is a common type of thinning pruning that’s used to remove the tops of branches that are growing at a wide angle from the trunk. The goal is to get the branches to grow at more of a 2 o’clock or 10 o’clock angle from the trunk. This can reduce the amount of wind blocking the tree and promote strong, lateral growth.
Replace Caulk
Roofing maintenance includes inspecting and replacing caulking as needed. Caulking seals the joints around vents, chimneys and other penetrations on your roof and prevents water leaks. It’s an easy task, but many homeowners skip it or do a poor job. A caulking problem can lead to a host of issues for your home and even cause water damage.
The first thing to do is make sure the area you are repairing is clean, dry and free of debris like bird droppings, leaves and other trash. Then apply the caulk, using a caulking gun or by hand, to create a tight seal. Be sure to use a waterproof caulking designed for your region. For example, urethane caulking is ideal for Vancouver’s wet climate.
If you have a shingled roof, you can use an acrylic caulking to repair small holes and gaps, but it’s important to remember that caulk is not a long-term solution for leaky roofs. In fact, re-caulking can mask the true problem, which is often a hole or gap in the flashing. To truly fix a leaky roof, you should always try to find the source of the leak and then replace or repair the flashing.
Leaks don’t just occur in shingles, they can also leak through corner boards, window edges and cracks or knotholes in siding or dormer walls. These cracks allow water to seep behind the flashing and into your home. Checking and re-caulking these areas is an inexpensive, yet very effective roofing maintenance step.
Another common place for roof leaks to start is at the flashing around a chimney. Depending on the severity, this can allow water to leak into your home at the ground level or even below it if the issue is severe. Again, a professional mason may be required to repair this issue, but if the leak is relatively minor, you can simply replace the flashing.
Finally, you should be sure to look for cracked housings on plastic roof vents and broken seams on metal ones. You can usually get away with squeezing a bead of caulk under the shingles on both sides of the vent, but this isn’t a long-term fix. In most cases, you can replace the vent with a new one by removing nails at the base of the bottom and screwing in replacements that are rubber-washered to prevent water intrusion.
