When and How to Inspect Your Roof

Thunderstorms, heat waves, high winds and hurricanes are a concern for residential roofs in Florida. After harsh weather, ensure that your roof has been cleaned of dirt and debris and inspected for damage. A residential roofing system that has not been properly maintained, repaired after harsh weather or regularly inspected by a professional can quickly fall into disrepair. In order to prevent this, you should regularly inspect your roof and hire a professional roofer if you see any signs of trouble.

When to inspect your roof

Expert roofers recommend that maintenance services for a residential roofing system be done bi-annually. Over the span of six months, weather and other factors can cause damage to the materials that comprise your roofing system. Having your roof inspected on a bi-annual basis ensures that damage from weather events, tree branches, mold, lichen and/or algae, pests, ice or other issues will be caught early and repaired before they lead to more damage. No one can do this job better than an expert roofing contractor.

What to look for when inspecting your roof

Even the highest-grade residential roofing material needs regular maintenance and inspection. In fact, nearly one out of every three residential roofs needs either repairs or a complete residential roof replacement due to a lack of regular cleaning and maintenance.  Here’s what homeowners should look for when they inspect their roof:

• Inspect the flashings around chimneys, pipes and corners for damage to prevent water from leaking in and around them.
• Check to be sure your shingles are flat. Those that are buckling, curling or blistering are signs that your shingles may be at their end of life.
• Look in the gutters for pieces of shingles or shingle granules. This can be a sign that your roof may need to be replaced.
• Look at your roof from inside your attic for water stains or other signs that your roof has been damaged.

What should be included in regular maintenance of your roof

Now here is how you can maintain your roof either on a seasonal, or at minimum a bi-annual basis:

• Clean gutters of leaves and other debris. When leaves pile in gutters, water can wick into roof sheathing and rot it, and even rot roof rafters.
• Sweep or blow off excess debris on the roof. Sticks, leaves and other debris can damage shingles, cause algae to grow and eventually clog the gutters.
• Trim any branches that are hanging over the roof to prevent damage and keep squirrels and raccoons away.
• Clear thick layers of snow accumulation that could lead to roof collapse. Carefully pull the snow off the roof using a snow rake available at most home improvement stores.

For more information on residential roofing maintenance, read House Logic’s Tips to Make your Roof Last.

Roof inspections help preserve and prolong a roof’s life by ensuring that small or less complex problems are promptly identified and repaired before they become major issues that are more costly to repair.

To find out more about expert residential roofing inspections and repairs, contact All Weather Tite.