We start looking for projects around our homes when spring is around the corner. After hibernating inside during the colder months, spring cleaning, gardening, and home maintenance are all on our agenda. We want our homes ready for us to enjoy when the warmer weather finally rolls around.
One of the tasks that are sometimes forgotten is spring roof preparation. Save yourself time and money in the future by taking care of your roof now.
Follow These Steps to Ensure a Roof That is Ready for Warm Weather
By performing preventative maintenance on your home, you save yourself a lot of future headaches. Roofs are an essential part of the home, and proper care can extend the life of yours. Here are some steps that you should perform every year as spring approaches.
Begin By Inspecting Your Roof
When performing a roof inspection, you look for signs of wear, mildew, and moisture. Closely examine your shingles. If there are tree branches that routinely brush against the roof, your shingles may be missing granules.
Check for shrinking, dry, cracked, and sun-damaged shingles. Sun, rain, sleet, snow, hail, and extreme temperatures are all damaging to your roof. Newer roofing products make a better first line of defense against the elements if your roof is in a state of disrepair and needs replacing. Capital Construction can recommend the right roofing products for your home.
You will want to photograph any wear you find and make notes about it so you can show it to your roofing contractor. They can access the parts you are concerned about with a more knowledgeable eye if there seem to be problems.
Check Your Attic For Signs of Damage
Take time to go into your attic if you can and look around after inspecting the roof. Inspect your attic during daylight hours to look for light that might be making its way into your home because even small pinholes of light from your roof signal a hole in your roof.
You will need to repair this so that when the April showers begin to fall, they will not fall inside your home. Small holes can let rain in, making your home’s interior vulnerable to damage. The materials inside your home are not made to withstand the elements like exterior materials. If you find light streaming into your attic after any snow has cleared from your roof, contact a roofing contractor for solutions.
Clear Debris From Your Gutters
The autumn leaves have fallen, and some have undoubtedly made their way onto your roof and possibly into your gutters. Take this time to clear away leaves and limbs from your roof and clean your gutters. If you feel uncomfortable cleaning your gutters, some businesses in the Boston area offer that service, so you do not have to do it yourself. Clean gutters will perform better and stop the massive erosion you might experience if they are not working correctly.
Trim Tree Branches Before They Become Problematic
While you are performing this spring roof maintenance, it is an excellent time to trim the trees that could affect your roof. When limbs and branches rest on or near the roof, in combination with wind, rain, and snow, they can damage your roof. In preparation for spring, have those branches trimmed before they can do any harm.
A roof that is debris-free will last longer and protect your home better. Contact a professional tree trimming service or landscape business for help with limb trimming and debris removal.
Schedule a Professional Roof Inspection
The experienced professional roof inspectors with Capital Construction will give your roof a thorough assessment. They will pay close attention to the area around your chimney, vents, or skylights that may have wear around their seals.
They will inspect the condition of your shingles and determine whether your shingles are properly installed, keeping a close eye out for pooling water, dips and valleys in your roof, punctures, snow and ice damage, wind and hail damage, and holes.
Snow can wreak havoc on your roof. It begins to melt, seeping into the areas around your shingles. Then, temperatures drop drastically, and the melting snow turns to ice, damaging your roof. A routine fall and spring inspection can protect your roof from permanent damage due to icy conditions.
When Mother Nature is to Blame for Your Roofing Issues
We have talked a great deal about how your roof can be damaged by the elements. You may want to take a look at the coverage provided by your homeowner’s insurance because you may be eligible, under the right circumstances, for a roof replacement paid for by your insurance company.
Capital Construction’s roofing contractors can help you determine whether an insurance claim should be in your future. Most insurance policies cover damage done by Mother Nature. You should check on the specifics of your policy.
Often, roofs that are a decade or less old will be eligible for a full roof replacement. Some policies depreciate the value of the roof over time, especially after the ten-year mark has passed. It is still essential to do a few things:
- Have your professional roof contractor from Capital Construction write a complete account of their inspection findings.
- Document with photographs, descriptions, and video.
- Get an estimate on repairs and replacement
- Speak to an insurance adjuster
Your insurance company may replace or repair your roof for little to no money. Reach out to your insurance company to find out if you qualify for a new or discounted roof.
Call Capital Construction Today
Capital Construction is happy to share documentation about the state of your roof with you so you can pass it along to your insurance agent. We will be glad to spell out your options for roofing and repairs. Contact us today for an inspection, an estimate, or to begin work on your new roof. Our stellar staff and outstanding products will add security and beauty to your home for years to come.
