A roof is a major investment, and it is important to perform regular maintenance to prevent major problems. A professional roof inspection should be performed by a certified roofing contractor twice a year to detect potential issues.
Inspectors examine the condition of shingles, flashing, and underlying structures. They also look for sagging areas, which can indicate serious structural problems. Visit Website to learn more.
An attic is more than a place to store grandma’s old trinkets and those things your kids insist on storing there. It’s also responsible for the overall health of your roof. Proper attic ventilation helps regulate the temperature of your home and prevents costly structural damage caused by excess heat, moisture and ice.
Attic venting combines intake and exhaust vents to promote constant air movement. Intake vents located in soffits or eaves allow cool air to enter the attic, while exhaust vents placed near the peak of the roof help reduce the amount of hot air in the attic. This keeps the attic cooler and allows for a more stable indoor temperature year-round.
Besides regulating the attic’s temperature, proper ventilation eliminates excess moisture in the attic space, which can cause mold and mildew. In addition, it extends the lifespan of your roofing materials by protecting them from extreme heat and moisture.
In cold climates, ventilation is especially important to prevent the formation of ice dams. Ice dams are harmful accumulations of ice that can damage your roof, gutters and shingles. During the winter, cold attic temperatures allow snow to melt during the day and flow into the exhaust vents where it can be expelled from the roof.
A well-ventilated attic space is also a safe space to store your home’s belongings, including toys and holiday decorations. It’s essential to avoid blocking your attic vents, however, since doing so will prevent air from entering the living spaces of your home. This can result in high energy bills and reduced indoor comfort.
Attic ventilation can be performed by installing gable vents, which are installed at the top of a gable-style roof and often painted to match your home’s siding or trim. They’re more aesthetically appealing than soffit vents and can act as both intake and exhaust vents. Another option is ridge vents, which are fitted along the entire ridge of your roof and can be installed on metal or shingle roofs. If you plan on installing a new roof or replacing your existing one, be sure to include adequate attic ventilation to prevent future problems and costly repairs.
Gutters
Gutters do a lot more than catch rainwater — they also prevent structural issues, basement flooding and mold growth. They also protect siding, windows, doors and the foundation from water damage. Without gutters, rainwater simply dumps off a roof and pools near a house’s foundation, which can crack concrete and erode soil. But with gutters, water is channeled away and through downspouts to the ground or into a drainage system.
A gutter system consists of troughs attached to the roofline, where they collect and discharge rainwater that falls on the roof’s surface. Each trough is capped by a downspout and extends vertically from the gutter. The bottom opening of each downspout is angled away from the house to prevent it from overflowing and discharging onto walls or into the foundation. The gutters themselves are made of a variety of materials, including aluminum, steel, copper and galvanized metal. However, the most popular choice is vinyl, which offers a budget-friendly solution and comes in a wide range of colors to match any home’s color scheme.
Gutters should be inspected for signs of corrosion, rust or visible dents that may indicate they’re not functioning properly. They should be cleaned regularly to ensure they’re free of clogs, which can lead to water overflow. If you notice that a gutter is pulling away from the house or sagging, it’s time to replace it with a new one. And don’t forget to clean the soffits and fascia, which are also part of the gutter system and require regular care. A quality gutter system is an affordable investment that saves homeowners from costly water damage and foundation issues.
Flashings
Unlike roof tiles or shingles, which are primarily decorative, flashings protect the structure from weather damage. Roofing professionals install them at points where the roof meets or penetrates other surfaces, such as walls and chimneys. They also seal and weatherproof critical areas of the roof, such as valleys and drip edges. Flashings are typically made from metal or plastic, and they come in a variety of forms to suit the needs of different areas of the building envelope.
Some types of flashing are designed for specific roof penetrations, such as vent pipes, skylights and chimneys. These are usually installed under shingles, rather than over them. Other flashings are installed at critical roof intersections, such as those where the roof plane meets a wall or dormer. Some are shaped to divert rain water into gutters, while others are positioned to cover joints in vertical surfaces. These include channel flashing, apron flashing and valley flashing.
Vent pipe flashings seal the area around plumbing vent pipes that protrude through the roof, preventing water infiltration and maintaining the integrity of the roofing system. These are typically made from durable materials, such as galvanized steel or rubber, that provide excellent weathering and corrosion resistance.
Other types of flashings are shaped to protect areas that are more prone to leaks, such as the drip edge at the base of a chimney or the open valley in a tiled roof. These are often installed in conjunction with other roof components to prevent water infiltration, such as metal valley flashing and counter flashing.
A key consideration when choosing flashing is whether it will work with the roofing material of a building, since any contact between incompatible metals can result in accelerated deterioration and galvanic corrosion. For example, galvanized steel should not be used with copper or zinc; aluminium should not be used with lead or pressure-treated timbers; and lead must not be used in contact with masonry.
Regardless of their shape or size, all flashings must be properly sealed to prevent moisture infiltration. Typically, any seam in a flashing must be soldered, and caulking should never be used as a permanent sealing method. Alternatively, some flashings are available in pre-fabricated sheet metal sections that require minimal cutting and bending, and they can be installed as one continuous piece.
Caulking
Many commercial buildings have joints, seams and seals throughout the structure that are prone to leaks, damage and deterioration if not caulked properly. Caulking is a vital part of maintaining a building, and it can save money on energy costs by blocking drafts and keeping the cold or hot air out. Caulking can also prevent water and moisture from entering the building, reducing the potential for mold and mildew.
Standard caulking compounds are made of acrylic, latex or silicone. They can be used in interior or exterior applications, depending on the kind of environment they’re exposed to. Acrylic caulk is popular for interior use because it’s easy to work with and clean up. It’s also paintable, which makes it a popular choice for finishing touches on walls and baseboards. However, it may not be as durable in high-moisture areas as other types of caulking.
The problem with standard caulking is that it often loses its elasticity over time, leaving gaps in the joints and seams of the building that can lead to major leaks and other problems. Additionally, it may not be durable enough to handle the expansion and contraction of building materials over time, leading to deterioration and cracking. It’s also prone to mold and mildew in high-moisture environments.
Luckily, professional caulking products are engineered to provide better bonds and last longer than standard caulks. They’re also designed to withstand harsh environmental conditions, including extreme temperatures and moisture. These products are more expensive than standard caulking, but they offer superior performance and longevity. They also come in a variety of colors and finishes to suit the style of any building. These products are often used to repair and restore existing caulking, but can also be used in new construction projects.
