No homeowner wants to deal with a leaky roof. With brown water stains on your ceiling, structural damage, mold and fire hazards, there are plenty of reasons for wanting to avoid a leaking roof as much as possible and prevent needing roof repair in Livingston Michigan. This is especially true considering that most of these problems will only become visible after serious damage has already been done. The best way to avoid roof leaks is to prevent the main causes of them. That means taking time to provide proper maintenance and make sure that your roof is adequately built.
While a roof repair can stop a roof leak after it has occurred you’ll need proper roof maintenance on your home’s roof in order to prevent some of those roof leaks from happening to begin with. That doesn’t mean you should make the roof repairs yourself or even assess the damage to the top of your home’s roof however. Roofing is an inherently dangerous job and should only be done by properly trained roofers. While this may seem a bit limiting there are some things you can do as a homeowner to prevent damage from becoming a roof leak. Here are some of the most common causes your home may have a roof leak:
Debris like leaves may not seem like a big deal, but can easily cause damage to your roof. This is because moisture can stay in the leaves and work through the shingles for days. You should always keep nearby trees trimmed to prevent leaves from easily ending up on the roof, and always remove any debris as soon as you see it. What’s worst is that even if the debris is removed after it has remained on the roof a long time, it can discolor the shingles and be very noticeable.
Gutters are needed to remove water from your roof and steer it away from the foundation of your home. When the gutters are clogged or obstructed in any way, it can cause water to back up onto the roof and sit. This can allow moisture a perfect opportunity to work its way into your home and create leaks. To prevent this, you should regularly clean your gutters out and make sure it is clear for moisture to get through.
Hail, branches or other forms of impact can damage your shingles. This can lead to dents, bruising and even cracks. Once a crack has been made it allows a perfect entrance for moisture into your sub roof. After strong storms it is important to make sure you have your roof inspected for damage to get it fixed as soon as possible.
Roofs need to be properly installed to get the full benefit of the durability and moisture resistance. This includes installing materials correctly and in the right conditions. Asphalt shingles will only properly adhere to the sub roof when the temperature is right. Too cold and the adhesive won’t stick and the shingles will crack. If the weather is too hot it can also damage the shingles.
Other materials like metal sheeting need to be installed securely enough to keep out moisture and not too tight to cause damage. The slope of your roof is also crucial because you need to have enough of an incline to allow water to run off. Otherwise, water can have a hard time flowing into the gutters to be drained off.
As materials age, they can become less durable and have a harder time standing up to the elements. This can make it easier for moisture to work its way into the sub roof and down into your home. While roof replacements are costly, they are inevitable and will need to be done around once every 25 years. Without proper maintenance, this can be much sooner. But once the materials have reached a certain level of degradation, they will have to be replaced to be able to keep moisture out. Be sure to call Livingston Roof Pros for a free quote on roof replacement for your home today.
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