It’s important to keep up with roof maintenance so that you can catch issues before they become major problems. A good start is regular inspections of shingles, flashing, and gutters.
Surface repairs are fairly simple and inexpensive, such as fixing shingle nail holes or replacing the flashing around chimneys and skylights. More complicated problems require a roofer to inspect and repair. For professional help, contact Roofing Company Baton Rouge.
While it’s not always possible to predict when shingles will become damaged, there are certain telltale signs that you should look out for. Missing shingles, cracking shingle surfaces, or dark spots and streaks are all indications that it’s time to start working on your roof.
The first step is a thorough inspection of your roof. This can be done from the ground or from a safe ladder. Look for shingles that are missing, cracked, or showing signs of wear (loss of the protective granule coating). Cracking and worn shingle surfaces can lead to leaks in your home.
Also be sure to inspect your roof’s flashing, which is the material that seals around the edges of chimneys, vents, skylights, and other areas where shingles don’t fully meet the roof sheathing. If this is loose or damaged, water can leak into your home and cause serious damage over time.
Another common sign of shingle damage is discoloration. This can be caused by exposure to UV rays, which fade the shingles over time. If you notice any fading on your shingles, it’s important to act fast.
If you see any shingle damage, the next step is to remove all of the existing shingles. This will help you to assess the overall condition of your roof and make any necessary repairs or replacements. To do this, you can use a shingle pry bar to gently raise up and remove each of the surrounding shingles. Be careful not to damage any of the intact shingles nearby. You can then purchase new shingles in a matching color and apply them with shingle cement or adhesive. Before you do this, however, be sure to have plenty of extra shingles on hand in case you need to replace any during the repair process. Otherwise, you may end up spending more money than you originally planned on. For best results, it’s a good idea to hire a professional roofer to complete your roof repair. Their experience will help you to avoid any costly mistakes that could lead to further damage to your home.
Flashing
A roof is one of the most crucial parts of a home, protecting the building and its inhabitants from sun, rain, wind, hail, mildew, insects and pests. But while shingles might be the most dramatic part of a roof, it is the flashing that prevents leaks and other damage. Flashing is a thin strip of metal, typically made from galvanized steel, that professional roofers install around critical angles and joints in a roof.
It seals the gap between roof materials like shingles and wall or vertical protrusions such as chimneys, vent pipes or hood vents. It also helps guide rainwater away from vulnerable areas like valleys, where two roof planes meet at a slope. Flashing also protects the crease where a wall meets a roof, helping keep water out of the wall cavity.
Without flashing, a hole in the roof can lead to structural damage and leaks that allow water to seep into the home’s interior. While shingle roofing is useful at sealing small holes, flashing covers a much wider area and prevents the penetration of water that can cause rot, mold and mildew, higher heating and cooling bills and even problems with resale value.
Flashing typically looks like strips of brushed, silver-colored metal secured to the roof deck and the wall or other vertical surface beneath it. A roofer uses a special waterproof sealant to secure flashing and protect against the elements.
If you spot a hole in the flashing, it is important to repair it as soon as possible. This is an easy and relatively inexpensive project for a roofing professional. If you choose to do it yourself, take safety precautions and wear rubber gloves and safety goggles. You’ll also need a pair of aviation snips and caulking gun with sealant, along with tarps to protect foundation plantings and shrubs below the roof.
First, carefully remove the shingle that covers the leaky area of the roof. Then, cut out a piece of flashing that is the size and shape of the gap and secure it to the wall with shingle cement. Next, run a caulking gun with sealant along the edges of the new flashing and press it firmly in place.
Gutters
Gutters protect your house from floodwater, interior damage and mold by channeling rainwater away from the foundation. If your gutters are missing sections, misaligned or pulling away from the house, they can’t effectively do their job. Fortunately, most gutter problems are easy to diagnose and repair, saving you the expense of replacing your entire gutter system.
Gutter leaks usually start at rusty spots or weakened seams. If your gutters are still basically sound, you can patch the holes by applying roof cement with a putty knife to a sheet of flashing. Make sure to use a waterproof sealant that’s rated for use with your gutter material.
You may also be able to patch a hole in a gutter by using a metal-repair patch that matches your gutter material and is several inches larger than the damaged area. Make sure the patch is bent over the edge of the gutter and extends at least 1 inch over long seams and end seams, which you should also cover with roof cement to ensure a watertight seal.
Gutter debris clogs are the most common cause of downspout leaks. If you’re cleaning out your gutters regularly and still find yourself with overflow, consider having a professional roofer install a gutter guard, which forms a barrier to block leaves and other debris from entering the gutters.
The other common source of leaks is ice dams, which are the frozen ridges that build up along your roof after a snowstorm. Heat from your home — typically from the attic and fireplace vents — partially melts the snow on the roof, but the ice dams prevent the remaining melted snow from draining off the roof. Water behind the ice dam seeps into your gutters and down the side of the house.
Lastly, you might need to replace the gutters if the fascia rots and the gutter nails come loose from the rotting boards. To do this, first determine how many feet of gutter you need and how many downspouts, then buy the materials and labor needed to re-install them. If you’re replacing an old gutter, you may be able to reuse the downspout and 3 x 4-in. drop outlet that came with the new gutters.
Soffit
The underside section of your roof overhang is called the soffit. It helps keep out moisture, regulates home temperatures, and prevents damage from the sun’s harsh rays. The soffit also helps protect the fascia and eaves from water leaks, pests, and mold.
Soffits are typically made from wood or vinyl, but the materials used depend on your budget. In general, you can expect to spend between $6 and $20 per linear foot of soffit.
Keeping your roof and attic in top shape requires regular inspections to identify issues early on. A soffit is one of the most vulnerable areas to damage and decay, so it’s important to repair any rot or insect infestation as soon as possible. This can save you money in the long run by minimizing future problems, like costly roof replacements.
One of the most common causes of soffit and fascia damage is clogged gutters that redirect water away from the roof and allow it to pool and saturate the fascia and soffit. Other issues include missing or damaged shingles, poor flashing, and compromised roof valleys that allow water to infiltrate the sheathing and rafters.
Soffit repair is not a job that is recommended for new DIYers and should only be tackled by experienced homeowners with the proper safety equipment, including gloves, eye protection, and a stable ladder. Before beginning, assess the extent of the damage and determine whether a partial or full replacement is necessary. Carefully pry shingle mold and rotting fascia off of the sheathing, being careful not to damage adjacent sections.
After removing the old soffit, install your new soffit using caulk and nails to ensure a tight seal and waterproof finish. If your soffit and fascia are still in good condition, you can skip this step and simply replace the damaged gutters, which is a simpler fix that can be completed by a professional. This will prevent water from leaking into your attic and causing additional damage. It will also help reduce your heating and cooling costs by allowing the attic to remain properly ventilated.