Seems like the only time people pay attention to their home’s roof is when Santa is on the way, the gutters have failed, or a rooftop leak has caused a raft of problems inside the home.
Truth be told, proper maintenance is the most important factor, after proper installation, for determining the lifespan of a roof.
According to Mike Brisbin, owner of Seaview Home Inspections in Edmonds, “A lot of people’s philosophy is to let the roof do its own thing. They’re only going to fix it when it leaks. By then, they’ve waited too long.”
Brisbin, a certified home inspector with the American Society of Home Inspectors, also cautioned that “not caring for your roof is no different from not changing the oil in your car until the engine breaks down.”
Mother Nature slings a host of attacks at your roof. Bout after bout of rain, the infernal heat of the sun, and freezing weather all contribute to the declination of your roofing system. Damaged flashing, loose or missing shingles, and damaged mortar on chimneys are all things to look for in a semi-annual inspection. “Problems around the chimney, vent pipes and skylights lead to more roof leaks than anything else,” Brisbin said.
“The biggest thing that shows up in our area is moss. It gets the better of a lot of roofs,” he said. “Depending on the roofing material, the moss can adhere to the roofing material. The longer it sits, the more it adheres.”
When it comes to moss, Brisbin cautions to catch the problem before it gets out of control. The granules of an asphalt shingle actually protect the roof from sunlight and wear. When moss build-up is too high, the granules come off, shortening the life of your roof. “If moss builds up too much underneath an asphalt shingle, the shingle won’t go flat again. Instead of a nice flat roof you have edges curling up everywhere,” he said.
Shake roofs are especially susceptible to the damaging power of moss. When moss sits on the edge of each shake, it holds water against the wood. “The more moss on the roof, the faster it rots away the wood,” Brisbin said.
Too often, people choose the wrong tactic for combating the problem. “People pressure wash the moss from the roof, but often they do more damage when they get a little too aggressive with the water,” Brisbin said.
Instead of using the high forces of a pressure washer, the moss can be removed by brush.
A windstorm is another force of nature to be reckoned with. After a windstorm, when it is safe to do so, get on your roof and physically inspect it. If you’re not able to inspect the roof directly, inspect it from the ground. You may need to stand quite a distance from your home to see the whole rooftop.
“In a close neighborhood, stand three or four houses down and use binoculars to see the roof,” Brisbin suggested. “Look for color differential to detect missing tiles or shingles.”
Your home’s gutters also need continual upkeep. Clogged gutters can cause water to back up into the house and lead to wall and ceiling damage. Excessive water around the foundation of a home may seep into the basement or crawl space and eventually cause cracks around the foundation walls.
Gutters clog with leaves, plant seeds, pollen accumulation and other falling debris.
The elements may be small, but they can leave a large mess to clean up if left too long.
Some homeowners turn to an electric blower to power out the debris found in gutters. This method is fairly effective, but some twigs and matted compost are reluctant to move. Your best tool continues to be your own two hands. Wetting down the packed areas several minutes before starting the cleanup will loosen the caked material and help with its removal.
During the cleaning process, mark areas in need of repair with a soft lead pencil.
After the repairs are made, the pencil markings can be easily removed.
No matter the situation, an inspection and repairs of your roof and gutters should only be done under the safest of circumstances. “There are certain roofs you shouldn’t be on,” Brisbin said. “Inspecting a roof is a daunting task.” If your home’s roof has a steep pitch or you have a shake, metal or tile roof, look to the professionals for help.
If your roof is in need of replacement, carefully consider the variety of roofing alternatives available on the market, including a number of eco-friendly choices.
Interlock Industries, in Everett, offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional roofing.
The company’s metal roofing is made from up to 95 percent recycled material, making it a green choice. According to Mark Vance, the company’s vice president of marketing, “Today’s lightweight and lifetime metal roofing is available in your choice of designer colors and profiles.” The product takes on a variety of looks including tile, shake, slate and shingle roofing.
“Metal roofing has been shown to last over 100 years, and is definitely the last roof you will ever need,” Vance said, noting that the materials will not rot, split or crack. “Your effect on the environment is reduced even more since you won’t be sending another roof to the landfill in about 10 years or so.”
In some cases, the metal roof can be applied over an existing roof, saving cost of tear-off and disposal.
Interlock’s roofing system is resistant to sparks and is safer than wood or composition roofing in the event of fire. “We have actual photos of areas where all other homes burned to the ground except for one that had our roof on,” Vance said.
Another eco-friendly advantage: Studies have shown that homes using metal roofing are much cooler in the summer.
“Initially, the cost of a metal roof is higher than many other roofing materials,” Vance said. “However, they are less expensive to own over time since you will never re-roof again and you will save money on cooling costs.”
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