Spring is About to Spring – Is Your Roof Ready?

Baseball practices have started, flowers and trees are beginning to turn green and bloom. What all that means is that springtime is approaching, but it isn’t all about beauty, fun, and games. For the homeowner, it also means getting your home ready for spring weather.

Here we offer you some advice and a few tips on things you need to do:

Roof Inspection

The first step is doing a roof inspection. You should be looking for shingles that are bubbling, curling, or missing. Bubbling and curling shingles can come off in the high winds and thunderstorms that this area of the country experiences in the spring.  Missing shingles leaves your roof susceptible to water damage. If the roof is ten years old or more, shingles that have missing granules means the roof is wearing thin and probably needs to be replaced.

Gutter Cleaning and Repair

Your gutters are a big part of the roof, so include this in your spring preparations. Gutters not only shed rain water off you as you come out the door, but they also guide water away from the roof and the foundation. At least twice a year you should clean the gutters and remove any debris, leaves, small limbs, and other things that may have accumulated. This will allow the water to flow through the gutters to the downspouts.

Also, look for any breaks or cracks where the gutters could be leaking. These things need to be repaired promptly so that your gutters don’t break off from the house. Check the ends of the downspouts too and make sure they are clear of grass growing over them. They need clear openings to perform as intended.

Tree Trimming

Trees can add beauty to a home, provide shade, and damage roofs. Keep the limbs trimmed away from the roof. Not only are low hanging branches going to rub against the roof and wear off the shingles, but in a storm with high winds, it can cause even more damage.

Have you Considered Environmental Roofing for Your Home?

When we talk about having a “green roof’,” technically this applies to having living plants planted on the roof. However, these days the term usually means eco-friendly roofing. The sun hits your roof, and the light is reflected into the atmosphere. The angle and intensity of that reflected light creates what is referred to as "heat island" which erodes the atmosphere. Furthermore, if the roofing material installed on the roof doesn't have insulation, the environmental interior is heated up and as such, we turn the thermostat setting down.

Fortunately, there are roofing materials available today that are made of a green material and are an environmentally conscious material that can be recycled later. Let us look at a few examples of roofing materials today that are environmentally conscious:

Tile Roofing

Tile roofing will last for years, up to a hundred years. This is a perfect roof material for warm climates. It is made from green material, and the curved shape allows the roof more ventilation. It also comes in many different colors. For a home that is in a warm climate, the lighter the color, the better.

Single-ply Thermoset

The single-ply thermoset roof is made from a membrane that has been derived from natural gas and oil, then cured. It is then bonded to roofing materials and provides an insulated and well-sealed cover. They are made in a factory instead of constructed and installed on the site. In this manner, the quality is more consistent.

This thermoset membrane type of roofing can withstand the sunlight which can damage roofs. These membranes also come in white now as well, a cool color for hot areas.

Single-ply Thermoplastic

There is a different composition with the plastics that thermoplastic membrane roofs are made from. For starters, they do not require being bound to material of the same type. Instead, they are welded closed and contain fire retardant materials that absorb ultraviolet light.

This type of roofing material is common among commercial buildings and restaurants because it is resistant to animal fats, oils, and even bacterial growth. This type of roofing can be installed over older roofs, a money saver so that a complete tear-down isn't required.

Time To Call A Roofing Company In Owasso

There are improvements around your Owasso home that you are excited about and look forward to doing or having done. Things like a kitchen update, a bathroom remodeling, or planting new flower gardens.

Then, there are those home improvements that aren’t as exciting. Like a new roof or roof repair, but this is one area of your home that needs attention, too. Neglecting the roof can lead to higher energy bills at the very least to more extensive damage.

To keep your Owasso home’s roof for many years, here are four things that Owasso roofing contractors want you to know:

1. Know When to Call a Professional. Roofing contractors will tell you that there are things you can do yourself without calling a professional. Such as performing a visual inspection of the roof a few times throughout the year.

You need to call an Owasso professional roofing contractor when you notice buckling, curling shingles or streaking stains. If there are parts of the roof that are missing granules, if you notice the flashings are rusted, or you see mold or moss growing, you need to call. If you notice any water stains in the attic, this is also an indication of potential problems.

2. Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance. Every year, at least once, twice is better, clean your Owasso home’s ventilation system of cobwebs and dust. Also, clean around and in the exhaust vents. Use a high-grade sealant to caulk around the pipes and vents that are coming out of the roof and any exposed metal should be painted to keep it from rusting. Clean out the gutter and crevices of the roof to remove debris like leaves and limbs.

3. Choose a Quality Shingle. If and when you have to have a new roof installed, choose a quality asphalt shingle that is guaranteed to last no less than 20 years. With the right Owasso roofing contractor installing them correctly, it will last you much longer than 20 years.

4. Enhance Your Home’s Appearance. The roofing material you choose for your Owasso home can and will enhance the curb appeal. The roof is one of the most value-added improvements you can do to your home with the average ROI as much as 56 percent.

Roofing Advice for Owasso Homes

Here is some advice for Owasso, Oklahoma homeowners in regards to your home’s roof:

Think Safety

If you believe or notice your Owasso home roof has a leak, be careful in your search for where it is coming from. Climbing around the roof during the rain or when it is covered with ice or snow is not the time to go on a leak hunt. There is not a quick or temporary fix. Any professional roofing contractor will tell you that the best thing to do is wait for the weather to ease up.

Be Cautious

Roof climbing and crawling is not comfortable nor is it safe. If you’re going to get on your Owasso home’s roof, wear rubber sole shoes and a safety harness. And don’t do this by yourself – have somebody there with you.

Spray Water on the Roof

Use your garden hose to find leaks. Spraying water over different areas from different locations will usually do it, but if the temps are near freezing – wait!

Clean Those Gutters

Clogged gutters are the most common cause for a roof leak on Owasso homes. Clogged gutters will create dams that backs the water up under the shingles, into the attic, and down the walls.

Devoid Any Dry Rot

Dry rot is created from not having enough ventilation in your Owasso home’s attic. The majority of roof repairs that are in the center of the roof is usually deteriorated plywood which is causing the roof to sag, the shingles to break, crack, and eventually, leaking starts.  Dry rot can be prevented by installing a ridge vent and soffit vents. This allows cool air through the bottom and then pushes hot air out.

Stop Ice Buildup

During an Owasso winter, ice builds up under the gutters, roof membrane, and shingles.  Then it backs up and when it gets to the where the wall is, the heat melts the ice and it begins to drip down the wall. Proper installation of a drop edge and ventilation will prevent this.

Chimney Flashing and Tile Roofing: Maintenance is a Must!

If your tile roof is starting to have some leaks around your chimney, it may warrant looking up on the roof or have a professional roofing contractor look for you. Too often do homeowners want to blame it on poor installation. If you have an older home, that probably isn’t the case. 

It could be that your tile roof simply needs to be cleaned. Or, perhaps the chimney flashing needs to be repaired or replaced. There is no way to know until it has been looked at.

What many roofing contractors find is that it is from rain, melted ice, or melted snow running over the channel flashing. Channel flashing is located under the side tiles. At the chimney’s corner, water will run off the chimney cricket almost at a horizontal direction to the side channel flashing and the vertical tiles.

As that water runs down, it collects debris such as leaves and trees and over time, it all builds up under the upper tiles, creating a dam next to the flashing that is raised up. The water will get pushed over the dammed flashing and find its way under the field tiles.

If the tar paper has any holes, the water will find its way there and cause the nails to start rusting, then rotting through the wood. The smallest of holes can start creating the biggest leaks in the roof decking. While it may be slow and unnoticed, the roof boards and the rafters begin to rot and the insulation starts soaking up water. Before you know it, it has made its way onto the ceiling and into your house.

You can fix it cheaply by smearing a tar substance product around the chimney and side tiles. Or, that can make the problem worse. Therefore, it is best to have a professional roofing contractor come look at your roof – most offer a free estimate.

Downspouts and Rain: It Can Be Artistic

Downspouts and rain gutters aren’t anything new. They have been around for what may seem like forever. They are how we control water that drains from the roof and gets it away from the house. When there aren’t any downspouts or gutters, rainwater or melted ice and snow can do a lot of damage to your home and landscaping.

Usually, on commercial and public buildings, you’ll see their downspouts and gutters have an architectural stone sculpture, usually depicted by some animal head, especially on historical buildings. Downspouts have been made from a variety of materials including chains, clay, copper, steel pipes, stone, and even wood.

You can also find decorative pieces to place at the end of the downspout to fit into your garden and landscaping. Some homeowners have set up containers to collect that water and reuse it to water their gardens and yards. The water coming off the roof isn’t clean by any means, so you wouldn’t want to use it for bathing or consuming.  But for outdoor use, it is perfectly fine.

If you don’t have a gutter system in place, it would be to your advantage to get some quotes from a professional roofing contractor for installing one. If you have one in place, it is money well spent to have it examined by a contractor, as well.

Keep Your Skylights Clean to Get the Most From Them

There isn’t much to maintain skylights, for the most part. The exterior frame is usually aluminum and will last for years without ever needing any maintenance or upkeep. But the area where the light comes in is usually acrylic, glass, or polycarbonate. These are durable surfaces that last for years and years, but they do need cleaning occasionally.

Do Skylights Need Cleaning?

Skylights on residential structures are either laminated or tempered glass panels which can be cleaned using a mild soap and water. You should never clean them with anything that is abrasive or use a razor blade, which could scratch the glass and/or coating.

Acrylic Skylight

Acrylic or plastic skylights need more specific care when cleaning them. Use only mild detergent and water. Never use any window cleaner or anything that has an alcohol or petroleum base in the product.

Maintaining Your Skylight

Residential skylights are almost maintenance-free.  If you have an older skylight, it may have a clear paraffin-based sealer that wasn’t painted. You may choose to have yours painted, and it is recommended that you have a professional do this for you.  A professional will know what to look for in the way of damage or rot.

If you have vented skylights with hinges and a support mechanism, never let anything obstruct them from opening and closing.