Your home’s roof is one of the most expensive parts of your home. It’s a major defense from the elements and if something goes amiss you’ll have to quickly work to get it fixed. If you own a home you know about the expenses that go into maintaining your property. It includes your usual lawn care, driveway, windows, and property taxes. The last thing you want on your long list of ‘to-do’s’ is to replace the roof. Usually, when you buy your home it’s got a roof that should last 20 years or more. If you want to keep your roof in working order and avoid costly fixes you should be aware of how to spot these roofing problem before they become a major expense.
One of the first things you want to learn is how to track down the source of a leak. When you’ve spotted a stain on your roof you’ll want to move upwards from where it’s found to find its source. You’ll want to look for any type of penetration that may be causing the leak. Elements that can cause penetrations are things like vents, chimneys, plumbing, and dormers. Really, its anything that protrudes from the roof. If you have access to your roof through an attic, take a flashlight and inspect for any signs of water or mold that can help to pinpoint where the leak is occurring.
If you’re having trouble spotting where the leak is occurring you may be dealing with a small leak. You’ll want to look for flow marks that can indicate where a small leak is happening. Your small leak may be happening due to the way that your roof was installed. Sometimes when a roofer is nailing things in place the nail can miss the framing and you might be able to spot this accident in your attic. You’ll find a nail exposed that may be covered in white frost during cold weather. If you do find an exposed nail your easier fix is to clip it and get rid of the point. When you are faced with a problem such as a damaged cracked vent you might be tempted to slap a little caulk over it and call it fixed. A solution like caulk will only carry you so long and the real fix you’ll need is replacing the vent.
When you’ve bought a home or have had a new roof installed you should be cognizant of how the roof has worked with the metal flashing. The flashing prevents leaks in the places where singles meet other surfaces. To do flashing correctly a roofer will take their time and be careful about their process. It’s not a slapstick job by any means but unfortunately, there are roofers out there who will take shortcuts. These shortcuts can come in the form of roofing cement plastered down. This cement can do a job of keeping water out but isn’t a long-term solution that will keep your home protected and your roof in long-lasting condition. There are just a few of many roofing issues to be aware of.
