Why You Should Have Your Roof Inspected Before the Holidays
The busy holiday season isn’t the time to deal with roof issues. By scheduling a roof inspection before things get crazy, you’ll be able to have any necessary repair work taken care of and give yourself one less thing to think about during the holidays.
Felgemacher Roofing & Siding serves the greater Rochester, NY, and Buffalo, NY, regions with expert roof repairs and inspections. Here are some of the things our roof inspectors look for.
Shingle condition
Our harsh New York weather year-round can wreak havoc on asphalt shingle roofs. Even the highest-quality shingles can begin to show signs of wear and tear after many years of service.
A roof inspection pays close attention to the condition of the shingles, looking for breaks, splits, deterioration, and open spaces with missing shingles.
Evidence of truss or underlayment damage
A professional roof inspector can get on a roof and quickly learn if there are breaks, sags, or weak areas in the structure below the shingles. This problem can be resolved with structural repairs before it leads to greater issues with the roof and parts of the home below it.
Damage to roof flashing
Vent pipes, chimneys, and other objects that extend through parts of the roof need secure flashing around them to prevent rain and melting snow from moving down below the roof. Flashing is the material that seals the gaps between the objects and the roof. An inspection will determine if flashing needs to be resealed or replaced.
Roof leaks
A roof inspection will check areas of the home under the roof for signs of leaks. It’s not always easy to tell if a roof is leaking just by looking at its shingles, but dripping water and water-damaged ceilings and walls are clear signs. When a leaky roof is ignored, the problem will get worse. Eventually, large sections of the roof may deteriorate, and numerous areas of the home can suffer severe water damage. Along with structural damage, roof leaks can lead to dangerous outbreaks of harmful mold in seen and unseen spaces.
How to address roof damage
If your holiday roof inspection finds that repairs are needed, it’s a good idea to move on those repairs immediately.
In the roofing industry, we talk a lot about the causes of damage that roofing crews are called to address. But the worst roof damage isn’t caused by the weather, shingle quality, or installation practices: the worst damage is caused by neglect for months or years after a problem has started.
Your roof inspector will provide you with a complete report showing what was found and the areas of your roof and home that have been affected. The report will provide recommendations for resolving the problems, which might include:
- Shingle replacement
- Flashing repair or installation
- Truss system repair or rebuilding
- Installation or repair of rain gutters
- Rebuilding certain parts of the roof
- Installing a completely new roof
How to keep your roof in top shape
Here are three ways:
- Keep an eye on your roof and alert your roofing company if you notice anything “unusual”
- Schedule a professional roof inspection every few years
- Have problems fixed as soon as they arise
Felgemacher Roofing & Siding is ready to help with roof inspections, roof repairs, and roof replacement services, all performed by experienced roofing professionals. Learn more by giving us a call or reaching out through our contact form.
