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.

A Worn Looking Roof Doesn’t Mean Time For Replacing It

You were out mowing or raking leaves, looked up at your roof and noticed it was looking tired and worn out.  Then the dread of getting a new roof washed over you.  Well, good news! Simply because it is looking somewhat unsightly, doesn’t mean you need to replace it - maybe.

It may need only a thorough cleaning! From time to time, you power wash your home and the surrounding deck and walkways to get a fresh look. Well, the same could be possible for your roof, too. Too often, homeowners replace the roof on their home without even thinking about just cleaning it.

A good cleaning doesn’t just give your home a good look, but it will save you thousands while adding years to your roof. It is an option to consider before you get that new roof. A new roof may be necessary if you have missing shingles or your roof is 25 years old or older. Or, if you see flipped up tabs or brittle shingles, a roof replacement may be necessary.

By having your roof washed, you can achieve the following:

1. A polished look

Having your roof thoroughly cleaned will remove those black stains that are also known as magma. It also removes that algae and moss that builds up over time. A professional roof cleaner will use a biodegradable chemical that will clean your roof and have a minimal residual effect.

2. Protection for Your Roof

Your roof protects you and your family, but what protects it? Having a professional out to reapply the biodegradable chemical cleaner once a year is a great protector for your roof. It will prevent small problems from becoming large problems which will extend the life of your roof.

3. Cheaper to Keep Her

As they say in divorce court – it’s cheaper to keep her. Same can be said about cleaning your roof. It is cheaper to clean it than to replace it.

4. Warranty Effectiveness

A regular cleaning is usually recommended by roofing material manufacturers. Think of it in the same manner how you get a tune-up on your car every 100,000 miles.

The Big Debate: Hand Nail or Nail Gun – Which is Best for Roofing?

The manufacturers of roofing materials claim that either way is good when installing a new roof. They have performed thorough testing which validated that either method works with their roofing materials. Where the debate comes into play, is when you ask roofing contractors. You will get different opinions because some are pro hand gun and others are pro nail gun.

For hundreds of years, when shake roofs were first produced, hand nailing was the primary method. Then in the 1950s, nail guns came on to the scene, and for the next few decades, roofing contractors around the country adopted the tool. Now, more than 60 years later, many roofing contractors have gone back to hand nailing.

So Why the Debate?

For an asphalt shingle to be installed properly, the roofer needs to drive the nails into the shingle that is perpendicular to the roof pitch, making sure the nail head is flush to the roof decking. For proper installation, the nail should be down a certain depth but not break through the shingle’s top layers and yet, set solidly into the wood decking.

Hand Nailing

The experienced roofing contractor can set the nails with hand nailing the right angle, in the right spots, to the right depth. They will know if the nail hit the wood decking. The more skilled a roofer is, the quicker they get at this process. However, it is more labor intensive and takes longer.

Nail Gun

The problems of using a nail gun installation are higher, starting with the fact that the roofer isn’t able to feel the nail hitting the wood decking. If the nail gun is held at the wrong angle, the nails are driven in at odd angles and may break the shingle’s top layers. The nail gun compressor has to be set at careful adjustments to ensure the nail is inserted completely and flush to the surface.

Depending on the type of wood, roofing material, and the weather, roofers often have to change those adjustments. When an inexperienced roofer is using a nail gun, or an experienced roofer is hurried, the shingles may be installed incorrectly. Using a nail gun does make the job quicker, which reduces labor costs.

Are You Ready to Hang Holiday Lights Yet?

We realize you’re just getting ready for Halloween, but that is the start of the holiday season and before you know it, it will be time to hang those holiday lights on the house! Before you grab your hammer, ladder, nails, and climb up on the roof, we have a few suggestions for you.

Safety is Number One: Don’t start the holidays off in the hospital! Be sure the ladder is placed on level ground, securing it with cords or a rope to your home and the ground. This will keep it from shifting and leaning back or over. Also, before you climb that ladder with the lights, test them out on the ground to make sure they light up, and there aren’t any frayed cords.

Do Not Use Hammer and Nails: Using nails can put holes in the fascia, roof, or siding, which can
cause leaks and water damage. There are plenty of products on the market today where you can clip your lights to the eaves or gutters.

Plug Them In: Once all the lights are in place, turn them on. If they trip a breaker, you may need to remove some lights or redistribute them to other outlets to spread the amps they are pulling.

Remember: If you aren’t comfortable with heights, hire a professional!

Your Hair can Curl, but Your Roof Shouldn’t!

A roof with curling shingles is a sign that something isn’t right. When the shingles curl up and are left that way, it is a prime opportunity for rain, snow, and wind to get under them and seep down to the decking, then on into the attic. As soon as you notice any curling shingles, call a roofing contractor immediately and have your roof inspected.

What Causes Curling Shingles?

Most of the time, it is old age. There isn’t anything that will last forever, except maybe love and taxes. But when it comes to roofing, the shingles start to get dried out and the nails used to hold them get loose and start coming out. If only one, two or three shingles are curling and damaged, a simple repair job may be sufficient.

For a fairly new roof that has curling shingles, it may be from improper installation. You should contact the contractor that installed the roof and request an inspection and repair. Sadly, if you used an unknown contractor, you could be out of luck and will need to find a different contractor. This is why it is important to use a certified, licensed, reliable contractor and check their references.

Poor ventilation is another common problem found with curling shingles. Before you have a new roof installed, have the contractor check your attic to make sure it has adequate ventilation. When there aren’t enough of the right vents in the attic, it can cause hot air to build up which will rise to the top.

During the cold weather, warm air in your attic (because it can’t vent out) will cause the ice and snow to melt on the roof. That water will then run down until it hits ice or snow that is still formed, creating a dam. It then sits there and begins to seep under the shingles, and the adhesive is loosened.

Up on the Roof Top, Click, Click, Click

Most homeowners schedule their roofing jobs in the spring or summer months. In this part of the country, spring is the busiest time because of the weather we have. There are also some homeowners that prefer to schedule their roofing jobs in the fall months, but what about getting a roof installed during the winter?

While it isn’t the best time to install a roof, it is possible, even in the extremely cold temperatures we experience here. Sometimes, there is no choice because of a list of possible reasons. The roofing industry doesn’t have any set guidelines when it comes to installing roofs in a certain temperature range, even if it is asphalt shingles. Manufacturers do, however, have recommendations so that the best job is done to get the best results possible.

Take asphalt shingles for example. As the temperature gets colder, they are more prone to break and creak. As long as the roofing contractor and homeowner can find a warm place to store the pallets of shingles prior to installation, possible problems are minimized.

Another concern homeowners have is if the self-sealing strips will adhere properly in colder weather. Talk to your contractor about the process of hand-tabbing the shingles as they install them. This is where they apply adhesive on the underside of the shingles. This process will help keep the shingle in place during the cold, windy months and when the weather warms up, the sun will seal them.

Fall is Just Around the Corner, Here are 4 Tips to Get Your Roof Ready!

Summer is coming to an end soon – can you believe it?! The kids only have a few more weeks of freedom and sleeping in; then that old routine will get started back up. What that means to you as a homeowner is that the rainy season of fall will soon return, too.

Fall is a beautiful, magical season, but it is also often a cold, wet season. So, as you’re getting the
back-to-school shopping started, it is also time to get your home ready, starting with the roof. Here are four things you can do before that cold, wet weather hits to prep your home:

Gutter Cleaning

All summer long, debris and leaves have collected in your gutters, and if they are left to sit there,
they create a block to the downspouts. When the downspouts are blocked, rain water will simply overflow the gutters and back up under the shingles, down the siding, and puddle up at the foundation.

As the gutters take on that added weight, it can cause them to break loose, too. A routine of cleaning your gutters can prevent these types of things from happening. If you haven’t had them installed already, check into having gutter guards installed.

Clear the Roof of Debris

While you’re up there cleaning the gutters, clear the roof of any debris, leaves, and limbs, too. Paying special attention to the peaks where the roof meets. When stuff is allowed to sit there, it will hold moisture and in time, start to mold and rot the roof.

If you see any moss on the roof, clean it off with a cleaning agent that is safe for the environment and a broom, then rinse with clear water.

Damage and Deterioration

Once you have cleaned the roof, you’ll be able to look for any cracked or missing shingles or shingles that are have curled or starting to fray. If needed, use binoculars and check for those things from the ground.

Check the flashing around chimneys, skylights, and vent stacks, too. Many leaks reported to contractors begin in these areas. By repairing them as you find them, you can save yourself a lot of expenses and headaches later.

Insulation and Ventilation

A roof protects you from the elements and to do that properly, it needs adequate airflow and ventilation. Hot air gets caught up in the attic, and it is moist. So without that airflow and
ventilation, that hot, moist air will build condensation. That will start to mildew and grow mold.

So, while cleaning and inspecting your roof, make sure that your attic is well insulated and that the vents are intact and working. This will also help your energy bills too!

Asphalt or Tile Roof - Which is the Best for Your Home?

When it comes time to replace your home’s roof, there are many options to choose from these days. The first thing you’ll need to decide on is which of the two popular types of roofing material do you want - asphalt shingles or concrete tiles. Both of these materials have their advantages and their disadvantages. Take the time to study both and then take careful consideration which ones are better suited for your home.

Less Expensive

The basic asphalt shingles are less expensive, thus their popularity. The initial cost of asphalt is a little bit higher than the concrete tile, but overall, they are very common, popular and get the job done.

Less Heat

For areas that are in a hot climate, concrete tiles are popular because they don’t hold heat as much as the asphalt shingles do, which in turn, lowers your cooling bill.

Easier Installation and Repair

The easier and safer installation is another reason more people choose asphalt shingles. This makes the installation faster, too. Concrete tiles become brittle quicker, and they require more care while installing, which slows down the process of installation.

More Wind Resistant

Concrete tile is better at withstanding higher winds than asphalt shingles because they are
heavier. While there is not any roofing material that can be 100% guaranteed to withstand anything and everything that Mother Nature brings to us, asphalt shingles aren’t as secured and are more likely to be blown away by a heavy wind.

There are pros and cons to asphalt shingles and concrete tile roofing, but at the end of the day, it is the homeowner that needs to decide which is better for their home and their budget.

Your Gutters Need Attention During the Summer, Too

This part of the country is known for the summer-time heatwaves that have very little relief until September or October. Most likely, you don’t think about the gutters on your home this time of year. After all, we get little to no rain for three months, right?

However, it is that lack of rain that stresses trees out with what is known as transpiration. This is when trees are exhaling moisture by way of their leaves. And the hotter it is, the more they exhale and the more stressed they get.

Trees seek moisture from the soil to replace the moisture they lose through their leaves, and when we’re in a drought, there is no moisture to be found – thus, the trees are stressed. A stressed tree is much like the human body – it becomes weak. When you start to see leaves and needles dropping off your trees during the summer, that is a good indication they are stressed.

So How Does This Concern Your Gutters?

The gutters on your home will begin to fill quickly with those leaves and needles that your stressed trees are dropping. Then when that next burst of rain comes, if your gutters are full of those leaves, needles, small limbs, the downspout will become clogged up.

A clogged downspout causes water to back up under the shingles and overflow, pouring to the ground. Since the ground will be dry and parched, it won’t absorb all that rain normally. It will puddle up and wash away your landscaping.

Prevent Gutter Problems

Those gutter problems can be prevented by having your gutters cleaned at least twice a year and having a gutter guard installed by an experienced contractor. Even after having this done, you’ll still want to have your gutters checked twice a year to make sure the guard is in place, and everything is working as it should.

Tips for a Healthy Roof in the Summertime

The roof on your home is important to the overall structure. So, keeping it in shape year-round, including the summer months, will help keep any costly repairs at a minimum.

Some of the things that you can do or have done are:

1.   Make sure the gutters and the downspouts are clean so that when it does rain, it can flow freely.

2.  Have your roof checked for cracked, missing or splitting shingles.

3.   Have the skylights checked for debris cluttering and cracks.

4.   Have the fans and vents checked.

5.  Make sure all flashing is in place and sealed.

6.   Check for any place small creatures can enter the attic and take up residence.

7.   Check for any mold and get it cleaned up and repaired quickly.

9.   Check the eaves and overhangs for water stains and repair.

Inspecting Your Roof

A roof inspection can be dangerous for several reasons. First of all, it is a high elevation, and the risk of falling is possible. A professional contractor will know where they can walk on the roof without danger to themselves or the roof.

Maintaining Your Roof

Routine roof maintenance twice a year will have a small cost compared to what it can save you in the long run. A small problem left alone can begin to not only damage the roof but your home too, from the attic to the foundation and inside.

What’s the Deal with Shingle Sediment?

When you clean your gutters, have you noticed a build-up of sediment in them? What is that anyway? Well, that is a sand-like granule that comes from your shingle roof. This gritty substance separates from the asphalt shingles and washes off into the gutters.

It is normal for some granules to start coming off the shingles over time. You’ll notice them more
when you have a new roof and then later as the roofing gets older. In fact, any experienced roofer will tell you that the trash in their gutters is about half sediment.

Look at shingle granules like sand dunes on the beach. Those sand dunes are like a buffer between the ocean and land; they slow the water down. This allows the grass and vegetation to grow which can keep small things from blowing up or climbing over the dunes. A natural barrier, if you will.

Now, picture your gutters with small sand dunes inside them, i.e., the sediment. The sediment is the barrier like the sand dunes and slows down the water running from the high point of the gutter to the downspout.

This lets the leaves and any small debris stay behind, and the granules begin to build-up, becoming a natural and fertile breeding ground for plants. So, if you go out and look up at your gutters and see plants or small trees coming up from them, the seeds have taken root in the granules (that sediment) and have sprouted.

One way to avoid this from happening is cleaning your gutters on a regular basis. Another way is to have micro mesh/screen gutter guards installed on your existing gutters. The micro mesh/screen gutter guards will keep shingle granules out of your gutters and keep that plant life out too. 

If You Haven’t Done a Spring Cleaning on Your Gutters Yet, Now is the Time!

Another cold, icy, snowy winter is gone, and we’re now in the midst of the rainy part of spring. So, you’ve probably already started on your spring cleaning tasks, but good chance you haven’t cleaned your gutters yet. After all, it’s been raining, why would you, right?

Well, as soon as that sun is out for more than half a day, you need to get that ladder out and get those gutters cleaned. If you can’t do it, hire a contractor like Dun-Rite Roofing, who can. Why is this so important?

Let us share a few reasons with you:

Gutters are your roof’s primary mechanism to get water off of it and away from the foundation of your home. Why? Well, 1 inch of rain washing off a 2,000 SF home’s roof can create over 1,000 gallons of water which could fill two swimming pools.

Clogged gutters are the number one reason that basements get flooded and damage the foundation. Clogged gutters keep that rain water from flowing, and the only place for it to go is up and behind and over the gutters, under the shingles and run down the side of the house to sit at the foundation as the ground gets more and more saturated.

If the basement or crawl space of a home has any cracks, the water will find them and run into the basement or crawl space. And, water will find cracks you may not even see. The water will also accumulate in window wells and seep through any broken seals or window openings.

That excessive moisture around your foundation will create mildew and mold in the basement and crawl space, which can lead to more costly problems. Not to mention, there is a health hazard that it causes. Clogged gutters collect that water that can’t flow and rot the eaves, fascia boards, and soffits. They also make a great place for mosquitoes to mate and hatch more mosquitoes!

When Choosing a Shingle Color, Six Things you Should Consider

You would think that choosing the color shingle for your home’s roof would be simple enough, right? But it actually is the hardest decision a homeowner has in most cases. There isn’t any set formula for this decision, and everyone has an individual taste and personal preference. So, the pros here at Dun-Rite Roofing have a few tips to offer that can help make this simple yet complex decision:

1. Look at the other homes in your neighborhood and the different combinations of those homes. The exterior facades such as the brick, siding, or stone and the trim. What do you like about them, or not like about them?

2. Ask whatever contractor you’re working with for full-size samples to make your decision.

3. Closely look at the granules and the varying colors of it on the sample. Asphalt shingles will contain a mixture of granules to create the overall color. You want the granule colors to match your home’s existing trim colors and the other exterior components so that the roof connects with the rest of the house.

4. If you are making exterior color changes, get color samples of each product so that you can make comparisons with the shingle colors.

5. After you have your color choices made, request addresses from your contractor where they have completed jobs and then do a drive-by.

6. Ask your contractor for website addresses of the shingle manufacturers. Most of them have visualization software today where you can download a picture of your house and apply the different colors and styles of shingles.

Before You Repair or Replace That Tile Roof!

After this past winter of ice and snow, then the spring hail storms we’ve had, have you noticed some broken or missing tiles on your roof? It may be time to repair those tiles or even replace the whole roof.

How do you know which you need? Well, if more than fifty-percent of the ceramic tiles on your roof are broken, cracked or missing, you’ll need a full roof replacement. And then, there is the underlayment system’s condition. There is usually an older ceramic tile roof that will have a form of organic underlayment like felt paper.

The thickness of this felt paper usually ranges between 30 pounds to 90 pounds. Ceramic roof tiles are porous which means they aren’t waterproof. So, the underlayment system is a vitally important part of keeping your home’s roof watertight.

Even if the ceramic tiles are in good condition, if the underlayment system isn’t, your roof is prone to failure. If this is the case, a professional roofing contractor can provide you a lift and re-lay service. This is where the existing tile is removed, then the underlayment and flashing system are replaced and then the tiles are laid back.

The Leaky Truth About Roofs

Your roof’s purpose is to provide the first line of defense for you, your family and your belongings against the elements. Water has a way of penetrating that defense when it finds a weakness.

The majority of roof leaks are easy repairs once the source of the leak has been determined. Determining the source is the biggest problem. When you have a drip coming from your ceiling, that doesn’t mean that is where the leak is located. Water runs downhill, so the actual leak could be from the other side of the house.

There are several things that can be the cause of a roof leak. For instance, AC and plumbing can cause a misdiagnosed roof leak. And with spring weather in this part of the country, hail damage and wind damage are number one in roof leaks. Some other roof leaks can be:

• Cracked, loose, missing shingles or tiles
• Damaged or deteriorated caulking, flashing, or seals
• Poor attic ventilation
• Poorly installed collars, flashings, shingles, or valleys
• Ice dams
• Pooled or ponding water
• Nail heads exposed
• Skylights
• Debris built up

Many of these things you can stop before they cause roof leaks by doing a monthly check of your roof. If you aren’t able to see the top of your roof from the ground and aren’t comfortable climbing a ladder, give us a call at Dunrite Roofing. After a hail storm in the area, it is wise to have your roof checked before you notice a leak.

Did Your Roof Get Hail Damage?

We’ve already had some strong weather coming through this year – early spring hail storms are the worse! They don’t only damage the spring gardens and our vehicles, but the roof on your home has the potential of being damaged, too. Hail can damage your home’s roof, and you won’t even know until the next big rain storm.

Here are few of the factors that can affect your roof after a hailstorm.

The Wind – With a hailstorm comes hard winds from any direction and every direction at high rates of speed. That high speed and the change in direction can affect the impact of hail.

Density and Size – Hailstones come in different sizes. They can be the size of a pea and as large as a softball. But they aren’t as smooth as a pea or softball – they have rough edges and that allows them to make more of an impact.

Absorbing Building Materials – All building materials will absorb hail impact differently. For instance, hail will ding a metal roof, metal cutters, and asphalt shingles. However, softball-size hail can puncture your roof.

What Does Hail Damage Look Like?

Well, it depends on what it hits. Various types of shingles have various reactions. Asphalt and composition shingles will have random hail damage, usually black in color. It will knock off granules and expose the felt underneath.Wood shingles will split and have dents and marks.

If you think that your home may have received hail damage on the roof, give us a call and let us take a look. If your neighbor’s house is getting a new roof, there is a pretty good chance your roof was damaged, too.

New Flashing is a Must with a New Roof

After this winter weather has gone and before the spring weather comes, many Tulsa residents have their home’s roof replaced. The professionals here at Dun-Rite Roofing will replace the metal flashings where other contractors may reuse the existing ones.

So, what exactly is this metal flashing and why is it so important? The metal flashing is an important detail to your roof. It protects and seals the joints that are created when the roof and roof-mounted structures intersect. The metal flashing protects your home’s roof from water penetrating to the inside.

Those joints are found along the chimney, hatches, parapets, skylights, towers and vent stacks. These areas constantly contract and expand with changes in the humidity and temperature. Some contractors will reuse the existing flashing to cut corners and save money. Some contractors reuse the existing flashing simply because it’s easier, especially when the flashing is embedded behind the brick or stucco siding.

However, it is our experience here at Dun-Rite Roofing that tells us most roof leaks are those joints, not in the middle of the roof.  Thus, flashing is a critical component and the old flashing should be replaced for the best interest of you and your roof.

Is Your Roof Ready for Spring?

Winter will be gone in a couple of months and coming in right behind it is spring. While that means baseball, hot dogs and warmer weather, it also means the rainy season here in Tulsa.   Now is the time to make sure your home’s roof is ready for all that rain, especially if you have an older roof.

If you haven’t had a professional look at your roof in a while, give us a call at Dun-Rite Roofing. We offer free evaluation and estimates and may find something that you can fix now before it becomes a bigger problem.

Roofing is designed to last for years, even decades. The most common in this area is the asphalt shingle type with metal roofs the next most common. Both have their pluses and both protect your home from the elements that Nature throws our way.

You want to be sure that regardless the type of roofing you have, it does its job. There could be the slightest leak that you may not have noticed because it is dripping past the roof and into the ceiling or worse, the walls.

This dampness will create mildew, mold and before you’re aware of it, the walls are rotting, then the floors. You can have a slow, small leak that isn’t even noticed for days, weeks, months even years. By the time you do notice, the damage is done and can be extensive.

Ice on the Roof is Frozen, but why is Water Dripping From the Gutters?

So, winter has taken its toll on a good part of the country and here it is February, many of us are still under ice and snow. As you’re looking out a window wishing it was spring, you see ice and snow still on roof tops and the ground, but there is water dripping from your gutters. With temps well below freezing, you know it isn’t melting ice or snow.

Chances are there is water built-up in your gutters and frozen. Dependent on the gutter size, water left standing that freezes adds six to eight pounds per foot. When that extra weight is combined with expanding ice that is behind the gutters, they tend to come off.

How do you Keep This From Happening?

Clean those leaves out of your gutters twice a year. Leaf accumulation is the number one reason melted ice and rain freezes in the gutters. The leaves fall and pile up, clogging the inside of the gutters and then the rain pushes the leaves to the downspouts, gets settled and clogs up the downspout. You also need to make sure your gutters are properly pitched and fastened securely to the house. 

If you aren’t able to check and clean your gutters yourself, it is well worth the cost of calling a professional contractor to do the job for you.  That expense will save you hundreds, even thousands, of dollars later.

Get That Spring Cleaning Mood Started Up – Time to Clean the Gutters!

Once the cold, snowy, wet winter is over, you don’t want to think about spring cleaning, but it is the best time for cleaning, especially when it comes to your gutters. The gutters on your home are an important part of your home’s health and a vital unpopular chore. Why?

When your gutters are left unchecked and get clogged, it can do a lot of damage. The first thing they do is hold water and standing water is breeding ground for mosquitoes. When gutters are clogged up, the wood rots along the eaves, fascia boards, and soffits and water can back up under the shingles.

The gutters on your home are the mechanism that keeps water moving off the roof and away from your home’s foundation. While that may not seem to be a big issue, 1-inch of rain that comes off your roof accounts for more than 1,000 gallons of water. That can be more than 30,000 gallons of water annually which will fill two swimming pools!

Does the Basement Flood?

The number one cause of basements flooding is clogged gutters. The same is said about foundation damage, too. When the gutters are clogged, the water can’t flow freely, and the gutters fill up then it cascades over the back and front of the gutters. It then streams down along the exterior walls of your home and seeps into the ground. It then will make its way to the foundation or into the basement.

These problems can be avoided by keeping the gutters cleaned out on a regular basis.  If you really hate cleaning those gutters, or you aren’t able to get to them, call a roofer about installing gutter guards.

Roof Flashing: What it is, Where it is Located, What it Does

One of the most important parts of your home is the roof. It is the first barrier in defending your home from the elements Mother Nature unleashes. An important part to your roof doing that is the flashing. If it isn’t installed right, or if it is missing, the intrusion of water at various parts of your roof can cause major damage.

So What is Flashing Anyway?

It is a protective seal around chimneys, dormers, skylights, and vents and it prevents water from intruding those areas. This is one of the most critical things your roof needs to prevent your home from moisture damage.

Where is Flashing Located?

Anywhere on your roof that has possible penetration points like the edges, gaps, grooves, intersections, joints, roof projections, and valleys.

Improper Flashing can Damage Your Roof

When flashing is not installed properly, has come loose over time or is simply not there, the joints of the roof are at risk for premature deterioration. This leads to expensive repairs or even a total roof replacement.

Best Prevention?

Examine your roof periodically and if you see anything like loose or missing shingles, have them fixed immediately.  Take another step and have it examined by a professional once a year or right after a storm. The sooner you get repairs made, the longer you roof will last and the less risk you’ll have of needing a replacement.

After the Storm, What’s First?

This area of the country goes through some stormy weather year-round, but the spring is the worse when it comes to homes being damaged, even demolished.  When you see it on television, it’s upsetting but when it happens to you, it turns your life upside down. It is mind numbing and overwhelming. It can be hard to know which way to turn or what to do first. 

Here we are going to offer some suggestions toward making plans before it happens, so you can get things back to normal as quick as possible.

First: Safety

Regardless what kind of damage your home has received, flood, lightening, wind, etc., the first thing you need to do is make sure everyone is safe. The aftermath can create some very serious dangers such as downed power lines that are live, debris and parts of structure falling. There is also the risk of mold
forming and spreading as time goes by.

Leave your home until officials have advised you it is safe to return. Make arrangements to stay indefinitely and when you can go back to your home, get enough belongings to make do. Safety should
be the first and foremost concern and then evaluating the aftermath.

Second: Federal Assistance

The government agency that is in charge of helping people have who have lost their homes or homes that have been damaged is FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). They provide different types of assistance such as temporary housing, meals and if your home can be repaired, they can find assistance with that, as well. They will also help you with your homeowners or renters insurance claims getting filed. 

Third: Document the Damage

If you haven’t gone back to your home yet, you’ll need to in time so that you can document the damage your home as received. You will want to take notes and take pictures. Even if the insurance company has sent an adjuster, or have one on the way, take your own notes and pictures. It doesn’t hurt to take
pictures before a storm and have on file for comparison if you should ever have this to deal with.

Fourth: Insurance Claims

Contact your home owner’s insurance company and advise them of what has happened. You will be assigned a claim representative who will assign an adjuster to you.  They will come out to take notes and pictures and make their recommendations to your case representative who will work with you to get repairs done. This process can often take months and your deductible will be subtracted from the amount they determine to be paid. The majority of homeowner insurance policies do not have flood damage coverage. If you have taken flood coverage separately and the damage is from a flood, you’ll need to contact them.  Your insurance representative will recommend a disaster clean-up company to begin the process of post-flood clean-up. If they don’t recommend one, ask for a recommendation.