Don’t Talk About Snow and Roof Repairs While It’s Summer
While you are lounging by the waterside under a “sunbrella” and a tall, cool drink in hand, the last thing on your mind is winter damage to your roof. For anyone living in a northern state where winters can be harsh, mentioning snow in August is taboo. On the other hand it would be remiss not to remind you of a few things you can do ahead of the cold season to keep your roof weather tight when you will depend on it the most.
If you can pull yourself off your lounge chair for a few minutes, here are some things you can do now while the weather is fair to prevent leaks and water damage and subsequent roof repairs when you least want to face the elements to climb up on your roof:
Ensure you have adequate ventilation in your attic. A poorly ventilated space just under your roof will wreak havoc with your trusses and shingles and will end up costing far more than installing a couple of good roof vents. The ability for the air in your attic to circulate means the snow and ice will not gather on your roof shingles, causing them to warp and crack. In the end it will also save you money on your heating bill.
A couple vents will not insure proper ventilation. A proper ventilation system consists of intake vents at the soffit and exhaust vents such as a roof power fans or ridge vents. This will also help prevent ice damming in the winter which will not only damage the roof but will also cause serious interior damage along inside walls and basement leaks when the snow and ice melts.
Clean out the debris from your gutters. The fact is that where you have full gutters, you also have blocked downspouts and this traps the water, forcing it to back up under your shingles. It gets even worse as the temperatures drop and the water turns into ice. This lifts the shingles up and cracks them, leaving your roof wide open to the elements. Your gutters should transport the water in a clean flow off your roof to the ground without diversion.
As a matter of fact, anywhere you see organic debris collecting on your roof get rid of it. It traps moisture and as it decomposes the shingles beneath join the party. Rotting leaves and twigs will cause your roof to deteriorate more rapidly than you care to know.
One of the most undesirable culprits to promote a leaky roof is loose flashing that is meant to protect joints and openings around pipes, vents, chimneys and the edge of the roof. Exposure to extreme temperatures and the wind breaks down the sealant around the flashing and you will only discover it when you see water damage in your ceilings and walls.
Although none of these situations is insurmountable, it’s quite alright if you can’t tear yourself away from your summer fun. You don’t have to do this yourself. There are many professionals adept at roof repairs where you live that can save you the climb up a ladder when you want to enjoy every minute of the warmer season.
Watch this video about roof repair contractor
Got a delicate roof that needs repair and cleaning? Call the roofers at Roof Therapy in University Place, Washington. They have the equipment and the experience needed to take care of delicate roofing materials such as cedar shake and shingles. Call for a free consultation. Visit us www.yellowpages.com Please help to answer the question about roof repair contractorRoof Repair Gone Very Wrong = Multiple Liens on Property?
My neighbor and I own townhomes that are connected like a duplex We contracted with a roofer to replace the barrel tile roof as a result of hurricane damage last year. Naturally, the roofer placed a lien on my house for the contracted amount.
They began the job in July by removing the old roof tiles and hauled the debris
By the end of August, I was told the permits had been applied for, I found no evidence of that.
Our roofer filed for bankruptcy in early October.
My neighbor and I each paid the roofer over $15,000 and would have paid the last installment of $7500 upon completion
What's worse, one of the sub-contractors has placed a lien on my home as a result of the roofer not paying him.
Currently, we have a tin paper roof and two liens on our properties.
Does the first lien go away as a result of the bankruptcy?
How do I get rid of the 2nd lien?
With the roofer declaring bankruptcy, are we screwed in getting them to finish the job?
Thanks for your time
About Author
Steven Briesemeister is the master roofing contractor that refuses to be defied by any leaky roof. Get a free quote for roof repairs at Roofer911.
Related Don’t Talk About Snow and Roof Repairs While It’s Summer:
- Roof Repair: Why Hailstones Rip Your Roof to Bits
- Take Care Of Your Roof Gutters And Save Money
- Take Care of Roof Repairs Sooner Rather Than Later
- Roof Repairs for Long Life of Roofs
- Leaking Roof Repairs
- Reroof America Management, Announces Reroof America Contractor’s Tips for Roof Leak Prevention During the Winter Months
March 12th, 2010 | by roofing contractor |
By spazzy_mcg on Mar 12, 2010
Since you are a Yahoo user, why not try the Yahoo Yellow Pages:
http://yp.yahoo.com/
Check out any prospective contractors references and ask for a certificate of insurance proving that they carry liability and workers compensation insurance. Do not give your contractor a large downpayment … no more than 10%, with the balance due upon completion.
Good luck with your search.
By john d on Mar 12, 2010
i would think if you had damage to your roof that would be covered by insurance you would have already contacted your insurance company. the contractor can look at the roof, assess the damage and give an estimate. filing a claim is your responsibiity (if it's your house). in most cases, repairs from general wear and tear are not covered by homeowners insurance. contact your insurance company yourself to find out if the repairs will be covered before committing to anything with a contractor.
By magnetic_azimuth on Mar 13, 2010
I think brother deserves a huge hug and a thank you from sis! He was taking care of his sister because most of these guys will not do that! Oh, there might be a couple but I sure as heck haven't found them.
By Danny on Mar 13, 2010
The drip edge should match the fascia and soffit. It's available in all of the colors that the F&S come in, so there's no excuse for not using it. White drip edge with brown fascia looks terrible, as you can see. Hope this helps.
By cool_yada_yada1 on Mar 13, 2010
Go ahead…it started what? leaking again. You could go up into the attic (loft) and look for the dripping while a friend uses a hose on the roof. Because it was roofed doesn't mean it was roofed right.
Call the contractor back and let him know right away.
By deedy66 on Mar 15, 2010
Contact the "Contractor's State License Board". The board will investigate a complaint such as this. Obviously, the work wasn't done properly or there would be no leak ! The contract should be for a "scope of work". That would make the contractor liable. He cannot deny responsibility if the roofer was paid by him.