What to Look For in a Roof Replacement
If you’re looking to buy a home, your priority is to make sure it doesn’t have any structural defects that could be problematic. Fortunately, you have options. A replacement can be relatively inexpensive, depending on your roof’s material and sell-by date. And in some cases, you can cover the costs by taking advantage of home improvement loans or grants.
Crooked or bowing ceilings can also be signs of a leak in the roof. This could indicate water is pooling between your ceiling and the roof, which can cause a roof to collapse if too much weight is placed on it. Call a roofing contractor immediately if you notice water stains, spots, or discoloration on your ceilings, walls, or attic. Buckley Roofing & Stucco will inspect your roof for free and let you know if it’s time to replace it or make repairs.
A roof is one of the most important parts of your home. It protects you and your family from freezing winters, sweltering summers, hail, rain, and wind. If you notice any damaged shingles, they can be repaired easily with the right equipment and techniques. The simplest repair method is to replace the damaged shingle with a new one.
The procedure to follow is fairly straightforward:
- Loosen the nails that secure the shingle using a flat pry bar and a utility knife.
- Begin pulling the shingle away in a radius around the damage.
- Once you have the shingle loose, slide in a new shingle strip or tab that matches the size and shape of the original.
- Fasten the new shingle by inserting roofing nails. If you’re unsure about how to drive the nails, contact a professional for advice.
- Apply a small dab of roofing cement to seal the new shingle.
Leaks are a serious problem and should be fixed right away. This is because they can cause mold, mildew, and other problems that will be very costly to fix if left unchecked. Water stains or spots on walls and ceilings are other indicators of leaks in the roof. These spots are far from the leak source because the water travels downhill from sheathing or rafters and can be several feet higher on the roof plane.
Rotted decking is a serious problem, as it can cause further damage to your roof and other structural elements in your home. It can also lead to mold and mildew growth, which is a health issue for you and your family. Roofing decking is often made of plywood or oriented strand board (OSB). These materials absorb moisture from the air and can eventually rot or decay.
Dry rot is particularly damaging as it can eat away at the cellulose fibers that give the wood its strength and rigidity. Often, the rotting starts from the underside of the sheathing. It’s important to replace damaged roof decking as soon as possible. Otherwise, the moisture may leak into your home and create greater issues. In addition, rot can also spread to other parts of your house, including the electrical system and structural elements.
Flashing is a thin, waterproof material that directs water away from your roof and into gutters. It is often used around chimneys, vents, skylights and other roof protrusions. When it is properly installed, flashing can protect your roof from leaks that can lead to mold, rotted insulation and damaged ceilings. However, flashing can also fail over time and need to be repaired or replaced.
If you suspect your roof has flashing issues, call an experienced roofing contractor for repairs. They will be able to remove the shingles, expose the damaged flashing and replace it. One common way that flashing can become damaged is if the screws that anchor it into place slowly wear out or start to pop out of the wood underneath. This can be a sign that the original roof crew was inexperienced or didn’t use the right screws.
Roofing is a complicated process. There are several types of roofs and different measurements are necessary for everyone. A simple gable roof is fairly easy to measure, but a gambrel or mansard roof requires some specific measurements. When measuring for a complex roof, waste becomes an important consideration. Intricate roofs require precise measurements for shingles, which often need to be cut for small spaces and nailed in a row along the roof deck. Because every square foot is not the same, this can make measurement more complex.
