Roof Maintenance

In the best of conditions, your roof is capable of a decades-long lifespan. However, it’ll only last as long as it should if you maintain it well. For that reason, you need to know what tasks are necessary. And while summer roof care does differ slightly* from care in other seasons, it’s more similar than different. So, how should you maintain your roof in the summer?  Read on to learn more about the tasks you need to do.

How to Maintain Your Roof in the Summer

1. Inspect The Roof and Remove Debris

It sounds simple, but many homeowners forget to do it. Looking over your roof closely is an amazingly helpful and necessary task. And what better time than summer? It’s warm, less rainy, less debris is falling … it’s time to inspect the roof.

• Grab a pair of binoculars and scan the entire roof from the outside. However, if your roof is too high for a close look, there’s no shame in having a professional inspect it.
• Next, get inside the attic and closely inspect your flashing for weak points or gaps.
• Lastly, if you’re able to physically walk on your roof and the pitch is low enough to allow balance, wait for a cool day (so you don’t damage the asphalt shingles) and make a careful inspection, removing all debris you encounter. Use only a soft broom – no rakes allowed!

You’re on the lookout for loose, discolored, and/or damaged shingles. They may indicate a more widespread problem.

2. Clean Out the Gutters

This one just makes sense. If your roof can’t properly get rid of water via the gutter, you’ll end up with damage. Not only to the fascia, but also the outside walls and even the roof itself. Clean out the debris from the gutter so your roof does its job from top to bottom. Alternatively, if you can’t get up on a ladder for any reason, feel free to hire a service pro. This isn’t just how you maintain your roof in the summer – it’s a year-round task.

2. Cut Back Trees and Shrubs

Nothing can damage the edge of your roof quite like a tree limb scraping it. Overgrown or low-hanging foliage is a no-no when it comes to keeping your roof intact. Use the summer months to cut back and trim all the bushes and trees that come anywhere near your roof. You’ll reduce algae growth, moss buildup, and scrape damage. In addition, you’ll reduce the sticks and leaves you need to clean off the roof and out of the gutters.

If your roof needs repair or replacement (and all roofs will eventually), get professional help! Simply call Chattanooga Roofing Company at (423) 799-2173 today.

* Really, the only big difference is temperature. Since heat makes asphalt softer, you should be careful if you need to walk on your roof in the summer. You need to avoid pulling shingles off their nails or scraping off the protective granules.

Most people look forward to spring after a long bout with winter. But what they don’t look forward to is checking their own roof for signs of damage. However, you have to do it – especially if the recent season has been tough on your home. Checking the damage on your roof should be a permanent part of your spring-cleaning checklist. That way, you can avoid some of the common roofing problems in the spring.

Being proactive when it comes to your roof can save you lots of money in repairs. In addition, you may avoid the costly hassle of having it replaced too soon.

Here are the 4 Most Common Roofing Problems in the Spring

1. Damaged Shingles

Shingles can curl up and crack during cold temperatures, especially those that are located at the edge of your roof.

For that reason, spring would be the perfect time to inspect the roof for damaged shingles. And as soon as you know about them, also have them repaired or replaced by a professional roofing company.

2. Animal Nesting

If you have any dormant chimneys or loose flashings, clean them up and look for signs of animal life. These are convenient spots for wild animals such as birds, raccoons, and squirrels to hibernate during winter.

You may contact an animal control and removal service to remove them. Then, contact Chattanooga Roofing Company to inspect your roof. We can also repair any roof damage in order to prevent these animals from coming back.

3. Water Leaks

Of the common roofing problems in the spring, this one can make the biggest mess. Water leaks may go unnoticed during winter because of freezing temperatures. But once spring rolls around and you have a chance to inspect your attic, you may discover the problem. However, discovery won’t prevent further damage to an already vulnerable roofing system. That is, unless you ask a professional to repair the problem. A sure sign of a water leak is if you see water stains on your ceiling or walls.

4. Membrane Separation

Moisture and dropping temperatures can take their toll on your roofing membrane, causing it to loosen up or peel away.

The membrane holds the pieces of your roofing system together. For that reason, it’s a vital component. Contact us to assess your roof integrity and discover if your roof membrane is still functioning as it should be.

If you suspect roof damage to your home or business, please call Chattanooga Roofing Company right away at (423) 401-2448. We can help to prevent your roofing problems from worsening.

Ever wondered what makes good roofs go bad? Anyone who has a roof has worried about possible problems at least a few times. However, materials are better now than ever before. Asphalt shingles are the most common roofing material used to build roofs all over the country. These shingles are durable and also relatively inexpensive to install.

An asphalt roof is known to last for 15 to 40 years, depending on the quality of materials used. However, if the shingles loosen up prematurely or if the roof gets easily damaged during a storm, these could be due to a number of reasons. Here’s …

What Makes Good Roofs Go Bad

Let’s start with what they’re made of, and then we’ll move on to how they’re built.

1. Low Quality Materials

Some manufacturers use a cheaper grade of asphalt to cut down on costs and offer a low price to contractors. They even make use of powdered stone fillers during the manufacturing process, resulting to loose shingle granules.

Chattanooga Roofing makes use of the highest quality roofing material to ensure that your roof is stable for the long term and is able to withstand extreme weather disturbances. In addition, we have access to roofing materials at wholesale costs that do not compromise on quality.

2. Lack of Ventilation

A poorly ventilated roofing system will not be able to expel moisture, causing the wood under the shingles to suffer.

The lack of ventilation can also lead to thermal shock and cracking. What you can do to increase ventilation is to hire a roofing contractor to install ridge vents or turbine vents on your roof.

3. Improper Installation

We can’t recall the number of times we’ve been called in to fix botched roofing jobs. Make sure to hire somebody who knows what they are doing.

Chattanooga Roofing has been in the industry since 2009. We hire only the best professionals who have the knowledge to get the job done right. We’ve been in this industry long enough to tackle any roofing job, no matter how big or small.

4. Lack of Maintenance

Your roof warranty may give you a false sense of security, but note that it will not completely protect you. Many of these warranties will be voided if your roof is not maintained.

Roof maintenance is important because it helps catch problems in the early stage. On the other hand, if you don’t fix minor problems right away, you may need to replace your roof sooner than expected.

Your roof is an important part of your home. If you want to avoid what makes good roofs go bad most commonly, it’s time to get involved. To make your asphalt roof last, give us a call at (423) 443-4174. Whether your roof needs maintenance or is starting to deteriorate, Chattanooga Roofing can deliver outstanding results.