Your roof and gutters are perhaps the most underrated part of your building structure. After a while, you stop paying attention to them. Yet, they are some of the most important parts of your home. They protect you from all types of elements year-round and help keep you and properties safe. One of the best gifts you can give to them is a proper maintenance schedule. It is the least you can do. By maintaining your roof and gutters regularly, you will help them last longer and stay strong. You want them to keep doing their job, right? So, let’s have a quick look at a number of things to do to maintain them.
Pro Tips You Must Remember
Maintaining your roof and gutters goes beyond fixing damages. That is only half the job. In fact, that is the second half of the job. A key part of maintaining your roof is a regular and thorough inspection schedule. This is for looking out to tell-tale signs before they become major repair projects.
How Often?
So, how often should you carry out this schedule and when? Ideally, 2 times a year. One in the fall and the other in the spring. In an unusual case of an environmental hazard, like a broken tree branch or storm damage, you should also conduct an immediate inspection.
DIY Or Pro?
This raises the question: should you do it yourself or call in a professional? This depends. If you decide to go the DIY route, you need the right equipment and skills. If you have a ladder and a pair of binoculars, you may be able to notice some signs. Of course, you most likely won’t be thorough in your inspections. If you decide to climb the roof, that comes at great risk. First, you might injure yourself. If your roof pitch is high or just too steep, you may fall from the roof.
Even if you don’t, you might break some tiles while stepping around. And let’s say none of those happen, you still won’t be thorough enough. There are signs that aren’t so obvious to untrained eyes. For professionals, these become immediately apparent. A professional has the necessary skills, experience, and equipment to carry out the inspection safely, efficiently, and effectively.
Moreover, inspections are quite affordable. Not only are inspections affordable, they also save you more money down the line. These are the costs you might have had to pay if you didn’t conduct a proper inspection in the first place. What if you like DIY? Good, stick to a ladder and a pair of binoculars. Move them around the house and look as far as you can. Make sure the ladder is sturdy and well planted on the ground. Also, make sure you are well protected. Then, call in the pro. Two heads are usually better than one.
Guiding Checklists For Inspecting Your Roof And Gutters
Whether you have decided to go the DIY route first before calling in the professionals or just want to learn more about the process, let us look at what to pay attention to when running an inspection and maintenance schedule on your roof and gutters.
Interior
Not all inspections have to be done outside. Before putting that ladder against the wall, here are a couple of inspections you can carry out inside the house:
Leaks On Ceilings: If you have a bad leak, you may start noticing it on the ceiling. When you start seeing wet patches, dark stains, or discolored spots on your ceilings, this may be because of a leak on the roof. This doesn’t necessarily mean the leak is directly on the roof above theceiling. Sometimes, this is just where the water gathers and seeps through.
Water Patch On The Wall: If you notice wet patches and dark spots forming on your wall, especially with a path from the ceiling, this may be because of a leak. In extreme situations, it may be bad roof damage allowing water to run down into the bricks.
Mould And Mildew: These may start to form on your ceiling and parts of the wall if a leak is left unattended for a period of time. It is always more than the signs you see. It is important to check the rafter and trusses to be sure of the extent of the damage.
Rot: This is also a sign of a leak that has been overlooked. When water sits too much on a wooden material, it may start to rot and degrade. It is possible that the rot goes as deep as the inner part of the roofing structure. So, make sure to note this to the professionals.
Roof
Now that we have inspected the interior of the house, it is time to check the exterior. And what better place to start than the roof itself. Here are a few signs to look out for when inspecting your roof:
Roof Rust: If you have a metal roofing on your house, look out for rust. If the rust is minor, all you need maybe a roof repair. In case of serious rust, you may have to replace them.
Broken Or Missing Roof Tiles: Another sign you may notice while inspecting your roof is that one or more of your roof tiles are either broken or missing. In this case, you need to replace them immediately.
Cracked Or Curling Roof Tiles: So, your roof tiles aren’t broken or missing. That’s all good, right? Not so fast! Check out for any one of them with cracks and those that are starting to curl. These are near serious deterioration and are in need of replacements as soon as possible.
Roof Rot: If you start noticing that your roof and other wooden parts of your roofing structure is rotting, it is time to replace that part. Rotting spreads, but it is fixable. If you notice on time, a professional can figure out the cause, replace the damaged part, and also cut off the further spread.
Missing Or Damaged Chimney: If you see damage on your chimney, make sure to fix it. Chimneys are vulnerable structures on the roof. Leaving small damage can disintegrate into something worse. Any missing or damaged parts, from missing cap to cracked flashing must be fixed immediately. Make sure flashings and sealants still hold well too.
Extra Installations: Don’t forget to check other installations on your roof. This should include things like your satellites, air conditioners, and pipes. Pay attention to the effect of the weight they are putting on the roof. Check if the air conditioner pipe is leaking and fix it immediately.
Gutter
Gutters are a huge part of the roof. Any damage to it could spell doom for your roof structure. Here are some of the signs to actively look out for when inspecting your gutter:
Loose Or Missing Screws And Nails: Whether your gutter is held down by a bunch of screws or nails, conduct a thorough inspection to ascertain none of them have gone loose or missing over the months. Loose or missing screws and nails leave a hole through which water may penetrate your roof and wreak havoc. Also, they may cause the gutter to become fidgety, making it unfit to deliver a good job of channeling water away from your roof.
Random Holes: While loose or missing screws and nails could leave a hole, those are not the only holes that may materialize on in your guttering system over time. Make sure you look out for those as well.
Rusty Gutter: Your gutter is most likely made from metal and helps channel water away from your roof. Over time, it may start to develop rusts at different spots. If you notice this, call in a professional to fix it.
Blocked Gutter: As your gutter helps direct the flow of water and debris, it can get all clogged up, cutting the flow of water and frustrating the purpose it was installed to serve. If notice roof tiles as part of the debris in your gutter, that is a sign that part of your roof tiles is aged or damaged.
Knowing what to look out for greatly cuts down the time spent fruitlessly searching and the error of missing key details. With this checklist, you will be able to cover more ground than you would have without one. Now, get to it and bring in the pro.