Maintaining Your Roof and Shingles
One of the big differences between renting a home and owning
is that if you own a house, you are required for all maintenance
work; you don't have a landlord to do these things for you.
This can be an expensive proposition. Especially when you're
looking at the upkeep of the home's roof. Replacing a damaged
roof can be one of the most expensive repairs you'll ever
face with your house. That's why it's better to try to prevent
problems before they occur rather than fix them when problems
arise. Think about your own house. If your roof is experiencing
problems such as damaged shingles, rusted flashing, or nails
that are popping up, these are warning signs that you need
to act quickly.
Two problems that are most common warning signs are blisters
on the asphalt or discoloration caused by fungus and algae.
Remember
not to wait until it's too late to consider shingling your
roof. This is something you need to constantly monitor.
A serious leak could begin without your ever noticing if
you don't check carefully. Many roof leaks take years to
show up. For this reason, make a practice of closely examining
your roof at least once every year. Check for rusted flashing
or damaged shingles. Also look at the nails: Are they popped
up? Examine ever inch of the roof for damage, giving special
attention to the chimney, hips, valleys, ridges, and the
flashing. Also look in your gutters for granules that have
piled up. This is a certain sign that your roof's coating
needs to be re-done.
If
you find yourself needing to re-shingle the roof, here are
some things to keep in mind. First of all, the type of roofing
that more people use (probably because it's the most affordable)
are composition shingles. They come in different weights
and materials, and are quite durable because their center
is composed of fiberglass, not felt.
Slightly
less popular, but still a valid option, are wood shingles.
Before you consider using wood, consult local zoning ordinances,
because some places do not allow wood due to the risk of
fire. Wood shingle are often made from red cedar. Wood shingles
are small and light, but more expensive than other varieties.
If you decide to go with wood, ask if they have been treated
to minimize the risk. If not, find some that have been.
Those
who don't choose composition shingles but who can't afford
wood often opt for wood-fiber. These cost slightly less
than wood because they're made from hardboard, not cedar.
However, you install them almost exactly as you wood true
wood ones. One advantage that wood-fiber has, though, is
that they tend to go up a lot faster because they come with
helpful marks for quick alignment.
There
are special things you have to watch if you have asphalt
shingles. Check to see if there re any holes or tiny cracks.
If so, you can fix these easily with a little roofing cement.
On the other hand, if your shingles are wood and you notice
any splits, you'll have to get a drill and put a hole on
both sides of the split. Then nail the shingle down and
seal the split with roofing cement. If the hole is big,
it sometimes helps to drive an aluminum sheet beneath the
shingle. Often, an old wood shingle will be rotten. If this
is the case, it can't be fixed; you'll need to replace it.
Remember:
Keeping a safe roof is essential for your family's well-being
and your own budget. If this is something you don't feel
comfortable doing, then please consult a professional.