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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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