Every New Year’s Day, many people make a list of resolutions that they want to keep throughout the year. Most resolutions have to do with personal goals. People may promise themselves that they will commit to an exercise program, spend more time with their family, make healthier dining choices, or increase the balance in their savings or retirement accounts. However, there are four resolutions that every roofing contractor would like to see more homeowners make and keep.
Four Roofing Resolutions for Austin Homeowners
1. Resolve to Take Care of Your Gutters
Your gutters are an integral part of your roofing system, but their importance is often overlooked. Gutters are much more than decorative trim for your home. They have an essential function to fulfill, and that function is to collect runoff from the roof and carry it safely away to your downspouts. In turn, your downspouts disperse the water away from your home’s foundation.
If your gutters are clogged with leaves, twigs, or other debris, the flow of water will be impeded. The water can be forced under the edge of your shingles and underlayment, damaging the decking and potentially resulting in a leak. If your gutters are cracked or sagging, the water can flow down your siding, possibly resulting in damage to the siding, or it can penetrate behind the siding, potentially damaging the wall studs and other structural components. Gutters that are not functioning as they should also lead to foundation damage, basement flooding, or damage to the landscaping near your foundation.
At least once each year, clean out your gutters. Using a garden hose, flush the gutters to make sure that water can flow freely through them and out the downspouts. Look for any areas where water is leaking through cracks in the gutters. Examine the mountings that secure the gutters to your home; tighten or replace any loose or missing fasteners. If your gutters are severely damaged or have missing sections, call a reputable roofer who lists gutter installation as one of his roofing services.
2. Resolve to Conduct Periodic Attic Inspections
Too often, people do not realize that they require a roof leak repair until they see a small puddle of water on a piece of furniture, notice water dripping from an exhaust fan, or notice a damp spot in the carpet, drapes, or ceiling. Many times, evidence of a roof leak could have been found long before the water reached the living spaces if the homeowner had conducted periodic inspections of the attic.
Choose a sunny day to inspect your attic. Look for water stains, damp spots, or mold or mildew on your attic insulation, rafters, attic floor, and items stored in the space. Check for any evidence that birds, squirrels, or other animals have found an access point into your attic; if they can get in, so can water. Look for rays of light that are coming through in places where they should not, especially where the roof deck meets the wall.
3. Resolve to Conduct Frequent Exterior Checks of Your Roof
Walking on a roof is a job for the professionals. They have the equipment and training to know how to do the job safely and without inflicting additional damage on the roof. However, there are many things that you can look for without ever leaving the ground.
Using a pair of binoculars, examine your roof from all sides. Look for cracked or missing flashing, especially near your chimney or where two walls intersect. Look for shingles that have patches without colored granules, cracked or curled shingles, missing shingles, and exposed nail heads in the shingles. Check the condition of the soffit and fascia boards to make sure that they are intact. Look for fragments of shingles or deposits of granules in your yard and around your downspouts.
4. Resolve to Call a Licensed Roof Contractor for Help
One excellent investment you can make is to contact a roofing contractor about a preventive maintenance program. Maintenance programs typically include a roof inspection after every severe storm and at scheduled intervals. Most plans also involve two or three roofing services; they may provide trimming of overhanging branches, for example, or replacing shingles that have blown off. These plans are usually quite economical.
When they need an emergency roof leak repair, maintenance plan, or roof replacement Austin TX homeowners frequently turn to Alpha Roofing. We are an award-winning, licensed roof contractor serving most locations in Central Texas from our headquarters in Round Rock. We repair roofs and chimneys, install asphalt shingles, and remove moss and debris. We also install skylights, metal roofing systems, and flat roofs. Our workmanship is exceptional, our prices are reasonable, and our reputation is impeccable. You can contact us by phone at 512-777-1086 or through our online form if you would like to receive a free quote.