Saturday, August 20, 2011

Basic Tips for Home Roof Maintenance to Keep Your Home Safe


Roof maintenance is something that any self-respecting homeowner should have some degree of knowledge about so that they can know what to do when a problem does arise.

No one is saying that you have to be an expert handyman, but knowing the basics couldn't hurt. That way, when something comes, you'll know whether the problem can be easily repaired or if it's a serious issue that calls for the entire roof to be replaced.

A home's roof, like a car or any other sort of mechanical device, needs periodic maintenance in order to it to do its job effectively. When maintaining a roof, you can often catch problems just as they start to develop. By catching these things early, you can keep small problems from turning into larger ones that might take a longer amount of time and extra money to correct.

That said, there are some basic things to keep an eye out for when inspecting a roof for things that might need fixing.

Flashing - Whether or not your home's rooftop has flashing will largely depend on the material that it's made out of, but flashing's purpose is to keep rain water from getting into the interior of the house. Roof flashing can lose its integrity with age, so you'll want to check that it keeps water out effectively. If it doesn't, then it's time to replace the old flashing.
The Shingles - This applies to you if your home has asphalt shingles in particular. Look for signs of splitting or buckling in your shingles. When you see these things, it means the shingles are weakening and need to be replaced as soon as possible.
The Material - If you have a roof made out of something like metal or wood, then you'll want to check for dents and other blemishes that can be brought by adverse weather like hail. You can also check for material-specific damage like chipping and rusting for wood and metal, respectively. Catching these signs as they occur early will make it so that you can have your roof resurfaced and repaired before anything catastrophic happens as the problems worsen over time.
Water - "Ponding Water" is a problem for flat rooftops more than any other kind. Ponding water, when it is allowed to sit, can eventually leak through the roofing material and into the house. Once inside, it can lead to problems like water damage and the growth of mold over time. When it comes to getting rid standing water, roof maintenance usually involves removing it within 48 hours of a period of heavy rain so that it has less of a chance to seep through the material and get inside the house.
Looking for and correcting things like these are good steps in the right direction of proper roof maintenance, as they can help make sure that you're getting as long a life as possible from your home's roof.

When it comes to keeping your roof strong and able to protect your home, any roof maintenance issue that you deem to be too large to handle on your own should be taken care of by a professional roofing contractor who can quickly identify and remedy problems.

By finding a contractor who has a reputation for dependable, high quality roof maintenance and guarantees to back up the kind of work that they produce, you can rest easy knowing that you and your family are protected by the roof over your heads for years to come.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6035479

Above All Roofing Co. is here for all your roofing needs. We specialize in everything from New Roofs, Repairs, Inspections, Maintenance, Seamless Gutters, and Insulation for Residential and Commercial properties. We are a family owned and operated contractor located in Vacaville, California; serving the surrounding counties and the Bay Area. We have extensive knowledge, with 37 years of experience in many types of roofing systems, including Asphalt Shingles, Wood Shakes, Built-up Roofing, Tile and Slate, just to name a few. Our goal is to provide you with quality workmanship, timely service and fair pricing. Our estimates are always free.
707-446-8819

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