Oct 26, 2022 | Roof inspection
When was your last roof inspection? Either by you or by a professional?
Don’t be caught off guard. Many people neglect their roofs until it is too late for maintenance. Now the problem can no longer be ignored.
Your roof is the umbrella of safety for your home and its contents. The structure, your furniture, your photos, and much more can be victims of water damage, and can possibly irreplaceable.
Residential roofing materials are designed to be durable and withstand the sun, wind, and other natural elements. But they too will breakdown after years of exposure. Moss and algae growth can accelerate that breakdown.
The older your roof gets, the more frequently you should inspect it. Visually inspect the roof yourself from a safe vantage point when possible. Your local roofing company can offer you recommendations for inspection and maintenance. Knowing these tasks are on your calendar can provide peace of mind. In addition, having a relationship with a local roofing company can come in handy in the event of storm damage.
Whether you have a professional inspection or inspect your roof yourself (or some combination of both), here are some common roof problems to look for.
- Roof Leaks
Sounds obvious but roof leaks are the single most common roofing problems and sometimes they are not visible at first, creating more damage before detection. Leaks can be a result of many roof issues, such as damaged or missing shingles, flashing issues, and more.
Check your attic for water stains or mold. Bring a flashlight to shine into the corners and along the roof line. The leak may be several feet from where it has appeared in your living space.
Leaks are common near the chimney and around skylights and vents as they are flashing points. Check around gutters and look for damage or debris there.
A visual inspection of your roof is an excellent idea. On a quarterly basis and after a storm. Call a professional if this is not something you are comfortable doing.
- Damaged Flashing
Flashing is a material often made of sheet metal and used to protect the roof from leaking at junctures with fixtures such as skylights, vents, and chimneys. If your flashing is damaged or missing, the fixture become vulnerable to water.
A thorough roof inspection includes an examination of the flashing, and your roofer will advise you of any damaged flashing that should be replaced.
- Missing or Broken Shingles
Depending on the age of your roof, you may start to see some signs of age including damaged or missing shingles. As the sealant ages the shingles may loosen and break off completely. These should be replaced promptly and should indicate that the professional inspection is in order. The missing shingle could be a one-off, but if other shingles are loose, you want to know about it.
- Roofing Granules in Your Gutters and Downspouts
A new roof may shed a few granules in the weeks/months after installation. However, if your roof is getting on in age and you see granules in your downspout, this may be a sign that your shingles are losing their integrity and may need to be replaced.
Granules are built into the shingle to protect the roof from UV rays, and once they fall off, the shingles are vulnerable and start to crack.
- Mold and mildew
When roof angles and gutters collect debris, the roof holds water. The moisture remains on the roof where normally it runs away and dries.
This can form mold or mildew, leading to roof damage.
Finding a way to keep the debris off your roof or a means to regularly clear it away is important to the life of your roof. The roof is designed to have water run off it. Pooled moisture will harm the roof and cause long-term issues.
- Tree Damage
One of the most common roof problems homeowners face is damage from falling branches and trees, especially during the rainy season. The best defense is to keep the trees trimmed away from the home. Sometimes this is not always possible especially when the fateful limb came from the neighbor’s tree.
- Damaged Roofing Materials
Nature is a major contributing factor to the deterioration of your roof, and your best plan includes regular inspection and maintenance. Catching the issue early will potentially save you money and prevent loss.
Make a Plan for Your Roofing Inspection
We have looked at some of the most common roofing problems and how a little attention and maintenance can avoid larger problems.
Contact us today for roof inspections, repairs, & more!
Have you had a roof maintenance check lately? Let’s work together to be sure your roof is thoroughly inspected and well-maintained. Contact Harlan Quality Roofing online today or call (916) 292-9548 for roof repairs or replacement.
Aug 31, 2022 | Roof inspection, Roof Maintenance
Your roof is comprised of two main components – the sheathing, which is the waterproof material applied before the roofing surface, and the roof shingles. During a roof inspection, both parts are carefully examined for structural integrity to estimate the number of years the roof is likely to last.
While a mortgage lender usually requires an appraisal of the roof condition should you sell your home, this is not the only time to perform a roof inspection. Homeowners who want to stay on top of and plan financing for major home repairs are keen to understand the condition of their roof. Installing solar panels is also an excellent time to assess the roof condition. Failure to do so could result in a major expense to remove the solar panels on top of the roof replacement costs.
In addition to a professional inspection of the roof, homeowners can monitor their roof conditions without ever stepping foot on the roof. Here are some tips for appraising your roof condition:
Exterior Roof Inspection
- Step back from your home so that you can see the surface of the roof. This may require you to move locations so that you can see every roof surface. Look for uneven slopes, debris, and loose, broken, or curling shingles.
- Use binoculars to see the shingle condition in a bit more detail. Look for missing, stained, or broken shingles. If there are tears in the shingles, see if you can identify gaps or chips in the area. Check for signs of the aggregate wearing off.
- Examine the flashing around sidewalls and roof protrusions such as chimneys and vents. Flashing should lay flat and be rust-free.
- Take a look at the edge of the roof. You should be able to see if you have more than one layer of shingles. As most codes prohibit more than two layers of shingles, this can help you determine if your next roof maintenance is a new layer or a roof replacement.
Attic Inspection
- If your home has an easily accessible attic, it is a good idea to combine an external inspection with an appraisal of the attic. Look for water stains that might indicate a leak.
- Check the integrity of the underside of the roof including the ridge beam. Look for any structural concerns or warping.
- Check your ventilation by making sure your vents are not covered or plugged with debris and your attic can properly breathe.
Professional Roof Appraisal
Even with regular inspections, homeowners should consider periodic appraisals of their roof condition conducted by a professional. At Harlan Roofing, we will provide you with a complete analysis of the condition of your roof and recommendations for repair or replacement if needed. Don’t wait for the rainy season to find out you have a roof issue. Call us today for assistance.
Harlan Quality Roofing
For Quality and Service… You’re in the Right Neighborhood!
916.292.9548
May 9, 2022 | Roof inspection
When To Schedule a Professional Roof Inspection
Every year the sun, wind, and rain add a little age and decay to your roof. Stronger storms that bring hard rain and driving wind can present damage to the roof. While a properly installed roof can withstand the elements, minor damage and decay can lead to more serious issues and need to be checked regularly to be sure no immediate maintenance is needed.
The National Roofing Contractors Association recommends that you have your roof inspected twice per year. The recommendation is based on a goal to catch any significant issues before the damage is apparent or urgent. If you are able to self-inspect once per year, Harlan Roofing recommends a professional roof inspection once per year as well.
What is Involved in a Roof Inspection?
A professional inspection involves more than just a quick visual. The physical inspection consists of climbing onto the roof and examining all the roofing surfaces. With a visual inspection, the professional roofer is checking every component of the roof, including the structural support and the roofing material itself.
The structural inspection is looking for sagging ceiling, cracked or rotted trusses, missing or damaged shingles or tiles, and exterior walls that may be leaning. While on the roof, the inspector will also examine your fascia, soffit, and gutters. Any equipment that extends out of the roof, such as skylights, chimneys, and vents, are also checked. All the grout and seals around these areas are subject to leaks and are inspected for damage or decay.
Roof Material Inspection
Roofing shingles or tiles are also examined for damage. This may be broken shingles/tiles, missing shingles/tiles, or decay. The shingles or tiles are checked for rust stains, moss growth, and water damage. The inspection should also include the flashing underneath as it may be subject to leaks and cracks.
Why You Should Consider a Professional Roof Inspection
Roofing materials come with a variety of warranties depending on the grade of shingle or type of tile chosen. You may have purchased your home recently and the date of installation or the specifics of the roofing materials used are unavailable. Getting a professional on your roof to make an assessment is a wise choice and can give you piece of mind or at least a heads up as to when a replacement may be needed.
In addition, a roof inspection will be accompanied by a report of all the inspectors finding as well as an estimate to repair any problems discovered. Having all the information about the health of your roof can help you plan financially for the eventual replacement of the roof if your roofing company finds that the roof is failing in too many places.
If you are looking for a quality roofing company with a trusted reputation in the greater Sacramento area, consider Harlan Quality Roofing. For over 15 years, Harlan Roofing has been providing superior service, products, and workmanship. Call us today to get scheduled for your roof inspection.
Harlan Quality Roofing
For Quality and Service… You’re in the Right Neighborhood!
916.292.9548
Jul 12, 2021 | Roof inspection
Your roof is designed to last for many years, depending upon the quality of materials used, the workmanship, and the care and maintenance it receives. However, it is valuable to schedule regular inspections to ensure your roof is healthy, in good working order, and any that minor issues are addressed early before they become a costly repair.
Wear & Tear
While roofing systems do last for many years, wear and tear over time can take a toll on its health and integrity. Each day when the hot Sacramento sun beats down on your roof, drying out the oils, which causes thermal cracking and deteriorates the material under the exposure of the UV rays. In the summer, the heat accelerates this process. We see these effects regularly as our outdoor patio furniture looks a little older, a little faded, a bit more brittle each season. Rapid UV Deterioration (RUD) is common in the Sacramento Valley and especially the older your roof becomes.
The Main Culprits
The major factors that influence the wear and tear on your roof and ultimately its lifespan is largely Mother Nature’s doing:
- Sunlight – As mentioned, exposure to sunlight and UV rays causes the roof to age. Exposure to solar heat and light is unavoidable and some roofs have more exposure than others. The latest technology in roofing materials (cool roofs and roofs with reflective properties) has greatly improved the resistance to premature aging from sunlight. West and south facing roofs tend to age faster as they are exposed to more sunlight due to their orientation.
- Rain – We all know that heavy rainfall can cause major erosion in soil and even stone. It also causes erosion of your roofing surface. Quality asphalt shingles are manufactured with this in mind to minimize degranulation. However, over time the roofing does wear down with exposure.
- Wind – High winds are one of the most common causes of roofing wear and leaks. Winds can lift the edges of your shingles, ridge trip or flashing and expose underlying layers to water damage. If the winter season has shared an unusual amount of rain and high winds, a roof inspection is a good choice.
- Trees – The shade offered by the trees in your yard is a relief on those hot California summer days. The trees can shade your house and roof, keeping both a little cooler than if in direct sunlight. However, those same trees can damage your roof, cause degranulation, and debris can damage the valleys and other flashings. Keeping them trimmed back can save you from tree related damage over time.
Get a Check-Up
Your roof is a significant investment and an important protection for you and the contents of your home. You wouldn’t go for years without having your car checked and maintained. Do the same for your roof. It could save you a lot of money in unexpected repairs or premature aging and replacement.
Harlan Quality Roofing
For Quality and Service… You’re in the Right Neighborhood!
916.292.9548