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Serving NE Ohio Since 1956 |
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What you need to know about
maintaining your roof..... Your roof is under
year-round assault from rain, sun, wind, ice, hail
and snow. Your best offense against this ongoing
onslaught is a good defense: regular maintenance.
Keeping your roof and gutters as free of debris as
possible is critical to the integrity of any roof
system. Although it's highly doubtful that you'll
have the urge to linger on the rooftop-traffic
should be kept at a minimum to prevent damage to
roofing materials. Only walk on your roof when it
is absolutely necessary to perform maintenance such
as cleaning the gutters, skylights or the roof
itself. When checking your roof’s drains, make
sure that all drains are open and allow water to
exit, and that all gutters and down spouts are
secure and free of debris. If you’re in a
region that gets a lot of snow, consider putting a
red pole near each drain to easily locate them
after a snowfall. Most roof damage occurs during
winter. Harsh weather conditions, such as heavy
rain or snow, strong winds, and extreme
temperatures can cause substantial damage to a
roof. Just as you maintain your car with oil
changes and tune ups, you should also maintain your
roof. Quarterly, semi-annual, or even annual
inspections can discover problems that, if promptly
repaired, can avert larger, more expensive problems
in the future. A roof inspection conducted before
harsh winter weather hits is important yearly
maintenance. With proper care and
maintenance your gutter system will maintain
its beauty and performance. Premature failure of
gutter systems is most often caused by the
accumulation of debris in the gutter, or by
excessive snow and ice buildup. Items such as
tennis balls, soda cans, bird nests etc. can block
the downspout. Leaves and debris, ice and snow can
accumulate in gutters causing poor or no water flow
to the downspouts, the weight of the debris and
water can lead to sag, overflow and failure of the
system. Debris filled gutters allow snow and ice to
collect and build-up on your roof because it can
not drain properly. Clogged gutters can contribute
to ice backup leaks through roof and sidewall
materials. It is the owner's responsibility to keep
gutters clean and remove excessive snow buildup
from the roof. Your gutter system must be cleaned
out a minimum of two times per year in order not to
void the warranty on your gutter system. Chimneys
require periodic maintenance such as re-pointing.
Brick chimneys may develop hairline or larger
cracks from season after season of winter freezing
and thawing, foundation settling, etc. Leaking may
occur through cracks or flaws in the chimney
itself, or through sealants and flashing that have
become loosened over time. My chimney has
white stains on the brick, what is
this? The white stains or
powder-like material is often the result of water
penetration of the chimney. During a rain, snow, or
ice storm water is absorbed by the brick and the
mortar crown. In the case of snow or ice storms the
freeze thaw cycles can enlarge the cracks on the
top of the chimney mortar crown allowing water to
enter the structure this way. The chimney will soon
saturate with water. As the chimney dries, lime and
salts from brick and mortar are pushed out of the
pores of the chimney. Wood in contact with the
chimney can also absorb water, and in most cases,
start to rot. This is a common problem and needs to
be accessed by a chimney mason. http://chimneykeepers.com/faq.html#12 Time and weather will shrink and
dry caulking so that it no longer provides a good
seal. Most construction materials expand with warm
weather and contract with cold. This normal
movement can cause loosening of flashing, sealants
and other materials. If not properly attached,
leaks can occur and materials can be dislodged by
strong winds. It is in your best interests to
periodically inspect and maintain your property.
Periodic reapplications of sealants and flashing,
etc. are normal maintenance and not caused by
defects in workmanship. |
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Questions or Comments? Contact the Webmaster. |
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