An excellent and stable roof structure is essential to avoid significant problems with your house. If you don’t protect your roof structure, your home can be subject to leaks, rot and expensive structural damage.
Additionally, protecting your roof is not just something you do when you install it. Maintaining the roof regularly is vital to avoid issues caused by adverse weather and overhanging trees. Failure to inspect and maintain the roof can leave it vulnerable. Even missing one cracked shingle can lead to time-consuming and expensive problems.
Our guide to protecting your roof structure will detail what can damage your roof and what you can do about it.
How To Understand Every Aspect of a Roof
Before we describe what you should do when inspecting and maintaining your roof, you should gain an understanding of its make-up.
Here are some key roof components that form the structure:
- The decking is essentially the first layer of the roof. It must consist of a sturdy material like plywood.
- The underlayment goes over the decking. Underlayment mainly focuses on preventing moisture from touching the decking and spreading rot to the attic space.
- Shingles will dictate the overall look of your roof, but they also help protect from UV and water damage. However, they can crack easily, so inspect them regularly.
- Flashing is the strips that seal every penetration on the roof, like around the chimney. They are weather-resistant, which helps prevent water leaks.
What to Look for When You Inspect Your Roof
Inspecting your roof regularly can help you avoid massive issues like water leaks. Even if what you find is as minor as a crack in one of the shingles, this is still the case.
It can take time to inspect your roof, but it is worth it when you consider the stress and expenses roof damage can cause.
Also, checking your roof can extend its lifespan, saving you money on replacements.
When you inspect your roof, here is what you should look for:
- Damage to the shingles, like cracks or chipped pieces.
- Shingles that are entirely missing.
- Tears or cracks in the flashing.
- Debris in the downspouts and gutters.
If you spot any of these roof problems quickly, you can experience several benefits, including preventing further damage like mould and structural damage. Also, you will save money on these damages if you arrange quick repairs or replacements.
When Should You Hire a Professional to Inspect Your Roof?
Sometimes, you can solve roof structure issues yourself, but sometimes, calling a professional is the only viable option.
For example, you may not have enough time to solve the problem before it causes further damage. Because of this, you need someone with experience and expertise to solve it quickly.
Also, going up onto your roof to inspect it can be dangerous if you don’t have the right experience or equipment. A professional can do this for you and give you peace of mind.
How Do You Clean and Maintain Your Roof?
Cleaning your roof is essential to prevent damage to it that could compromise the safety of your home.
If you clean the roof regularly, you can do the following:
- Remove debris that could cause damage to the shingles and flashing.
- Make your roof nicer to look at because there is no debris or dirt on it.
- Remove debris from the ventilation system to balance the temperature in the attic.
When you clean your roof, you don’t need to go through the trouble of using a ladder. Use a roof rake instead to get debris off the roof safely.
You also need to regularly clean the gutters and downspouts on your roof to stop blockages in the system. If the gutters clog, water can stay on the roof and leak into the attic. Installing gutter guards is a good plan to stop debris from entering your gutters.
How Does High-Quality Ventilation Protect Your Roof’s Structure?
Having excellent ventilation on the roof can contribute to the health of your roof’s structure. The main reason for this is that ventilation can regulate the temperature of the roof and the attic, preventing the shingles from expanding.
Additionally, ventilation regulating the temperature can help prevent mould on the roof, which is significant because mould can cause costly structural damage if left unchecked.
Why is Weatherproofing Your Roof Important?
One of the most common hazards to a residential roof is rain. Therefore, you need to weatherproof and fully seal it.
You can seal the roof with excellent flashing. Fast Flash is especially effective for getting a tight seal on roof penetrations. You must also ensure that the shingles and flashing resist rainwater and high winds.
If you see damage to the shingles or flashing when you inspect them, use sealant to seal any cracks or tears or replace them if necessary. Also, don’t just check the centre of the flashing and shingles; look at the edges and seams to check for wear and tear.
Do Overhanging Trees Provide a Risk to Your Roof Structure?
One of the most common types of debris on your roof is falling branches from overhanging trees. The branches can damage the shingles and flashing and block the gutters.
If the edges of tree branches are close to your roof, you should prune them regularly and safely remove the branches.
However, in some cases, the tree can loom directly over the roof, meaning that falling branches are a constant worry for you. If this is the case, schedule a meeting with an arborist and ask their professional opinion on whether you should keep pruning the tree or if there are grounds to remove it.
Why is Replacing Parts of Your Roof at the Right Time So Crucial?
Some types of roof damage are often too severe to repair; they need an immediate replacement. You must replace damaged shingles and flashing quickly because, in the meantime, they are vulnerable, and there is nothing to stop rainwater from entering the gaps.
If you have to replace parts of your roof often, you should consider upgrading them instead. If you upgrade your flashing, for example, you can get a more durable product, meaning it will last longer and prolong your roof’s life.
Upgrading can also increase the insulation in your attic, meaning you will pay much less on your energy bills.
Do You Need to Have Insurance for Your Roof?
Although not a physical piece of protection for your roof, insurance can help you financially after damage to your roof structure.
For example, most homeowners insurance plans cover roof damage from extreme weather events like storms and wildfires.
Additionally, your roofing materials will have warranties to refer to. For example, if flashing breaks within a certain period, it may still be under warranty, and you may be able to get a free replacement.
Final Thoughts on The Importance of Roof Structure Protection
In summary, protecting your roof structure is critical, so remember our tips for inspection and cleaning to do it properly.
Also, never wait for damage to occur on your roof before you take action. You must inspect and clean it regularly to repair damage before it escalates. If you do this consistently, you will save money on expensive repairs.
Contact us at Evo Building Products for more advice on protecting your roof effectively.