Roof Repair – All You Need to know
There are different parts to the roof. There are fascias, which is normally made of wood and helps to be a first line of protection to your roof. Then there are gutters to help water to flow off of the roof safely to a location that will not back up into the foundation of the house. But the gutters may get too heavy and begin to bow and pull on the roof line if they get too full of dirt or leaves. The shingles get damaged by weather, and start to curl, or break or crack and water can get under them and roof rot may begin.
If you see moisture spots in your upper floor ceilings inside your home, this usually means that you have a roof problem and it should be fixed before moisture gets into your walls and begins to cause mold inside your home.
If you see the shingles curling up or breaking off on your roof, it is best to get them replaced as soon as possible. If you have a storm with large hail stones, you should call your insurance company to come and assess any damage that may have occurred.
Now that we know what the basics are to look for when a roof repair is needed; we need to see what types of roofing is available now and make sure your choice for roof materials is correct.
Asphalt shingles is still used for most housing projects, but there are so many other options to consider now, not only for your home but for your business as well. One newer innovation is a spray on sealer that protects your roof in the business world. It is never recommended that you try to do something like this on your own. Roof repairs is one of the projects that the professionals should do, as even the slant of the roof and the weather can affect the safety of the crew working several feet off of the ground.
When it comes to your home, the roofing options are numerous. When it comes to your business or flat roofs, you can choose a roofing material that will last a few years in general, with a few visits to seal up little leaks that pop up with weather conditions; or you can go with spray-on foam polyurethane material with a Silicone top finish. Ask for references from the roofers to check on the longevity of the roofs by asking their clients how they like their roof.
Pros and Cons of the spray on foam roof
- With proper maintenance it can last up to 50 years.
- You do need to have an expert inspect it after storms or extreme weather for damage that may have been caused to the silicone top coat.
- But you just spray additional material on top of the roof material, no need to remove anything first.
If you are not sure who can do your roof repair safely or legally you need to research this. There are many things to consider in order to insure all of your bases are covered and there won’t be any trouble in the future. You want to make sure that if the roof repair is finished but a month later some shingles fall off; you want to know that your roofers were licensed and that your insurance company approved of your roofers.
You don’t want to have to pay for a roof repair twice. A couple of things to consider when repairing a roof are; Is there adequate flashing and no vents were covered up? Make sure that proper inspections have been done before roof repair, during roof repair and afterward. You may contact your insurance company to see that they are taking care of that, or that the city inspectors are aware of the company you are using and that everything is okay with the city inspector in general.
Ask yourself some of these questions:
- Besides the basic wear and tear, have there been any storms, which caused your neighbors to get their roofs repaired?
- Is your roof around 20 years old?
- Do you have dark patches or streaks in certain places on your roof?
- If it is a flat roof at your business, are there numerous leaks every time it rains?
If you answered yes to any of these questions it is probably time for a roof repair.
Make sure you are not in a hurry and check to see what you need to do for the insurance company, your city inspectors and check with your neighborhood H.O.A. if you have one. Sometimes they have strict rules that say what materials or colors of roofing you may use. Don’t forget to check on the newest innovated roofing systems for your type of roof. Hire this job out and do your research in order to choose wisely and carefully.