Colder temperatures here in the Greater Philadelphia area bring big problems to roofs that are not in good condition. As the homeowner, you can do a basic check of your roof every year to make sure it’s ready for the winter weather. If you see anything that looks suspicious, call an expert to look deeper.
Where to look on your roof
The first thing to do is to step back and look at your roof. Step way back. You may need to ask a neighbor if you can stand on their lawn or reach a higher elevation so you can see your entire roof surface. You’re looking for obvious things, like missing or broken shingles or a wavy look on what should be a flat roof.
You’ll also need to look at flashing and boots around chimneys, vents, along walls where they meet the roof, and other features. Try to avoid going out on the roof. Let our experts do that for you. If you have a sturdy ladder and someone to hold it, or if you have a window that will give you a good view of some parts of your roof, use those methods instead. Flashing can rust, caulking around features can shrink, and plastic or rubber boots can dry and crack. All these conditions can let in moisture, which is your number one enemy as a homeowner. It’s great for your landscaping, bad for your house.
Look for signs of moss or lichen, which is a sure sign of moisture retention. If your wall is rotting along the roof edge, that’s another sign of trouble. If holes were drilled into your roof for a satellite dish, solar panels, or some other feature, they can let moisture in, especially if the feature has since been removed and the holes have not been sealed.
Check your gutters, too. Rain comes down to the edge of your roof and can cling to the underside of the shingle. If your roof doesn’t have a gutter apron on the edge to direct water from the underside of the roof into the gutter, the water could get behind the gutters and into your siding or under the roof boards. Clogged gutters can also push moisture up under the roof and behind the siding. And if you see a lot of debris from your asphalt shingles in your gutters, that’s a sure sign that they are past their prime and are starting to deteriorate.
What to look for inside your house
Do you see spots around your ceiling fan in your bathroom? It may come from moisture extending down from the roof vent. Small stains on the ceiling could also signal a bigger problem. If you see mold on exterior walls, you may need to check the interior wall to see if it has worked its way inside. This might require removing some wall surfaces and insulation to see if there is any mold on the inside of the exterior wall material.
Check the attic on a bright, sunny day, to see if you can see sunlight shining through any holes. Also, look for ceiling nails that missed the beams. If they aren’t properly sealed, moisture can follow the nail down into your home.
Check yearly
By checking your roof at least once a year, you can usually stop small problems before they become big and expensive problems. But if you try to fix something on your own, you may not realize that damage has been done at a deeper level, which will just continue to worsen over time. That’s why we always encourage homeowners to check with us for a roof inspection. We know what to look for and we have the equipment and expertise to do it safely and accurately.
Give yourself the peace of mind to know that your roof will keep you warm and dry for another year. Call us today at (610) 353-2895. Family-owned and operated, we service the Philadelphia area from our location on the Main Line.