You may not think too much about your roof until there is a significant problem that occurs. What you should be doing with your roof, however, is checking it often and repairing anything that may need to be fixed. By doing this, your roof will last longer and you won't have to worry about any significant problems if you keep up on the small repairs. Here are a few things to look for that may need repair on your roof to avoid any major issues.
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Check for missing shingles and replace.
Sometimes when there are shingles missing, it is very easy to spot. Other times there may be a small spot of shingles missing at the tallest peak of your home. It is necessary to always keep an eye on the part of the roof that you can see from below or from a ladder. Then for the taller places on the roof, it is best to call an experienced roofing contractor to come and check the shingles on a regular basis. It is easier to replace a few shingles every once in a while, then a whole roof all at once. It is definitely easier on the wallet. If shingles are not replaced quickly, it could lead to roof leaks and other structural damage to the roof.
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Check flashing on the roof.
The areas on the roof that are most vulnerable are around the flashing. The flashing is small metal that surrounds any protrusions in the roof, such as skylights, chimneys or vents. These areas that the flashing is on are areas where there are breaks in the shingles and the flashing helps prevent leaks, which is why it is so important to have it in good shape. Having flashing in good shape means parts of the flashing should not be rusting, dented or have any piece missing. If you see one of these, replace the flashing as soon as possible.
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Check your gutters.
While gutters are not technically part of the roofing, they play a big role in the shape of your roof over time. If gutters are broken or full of debris, they can contribute to water build up along the edges of the roof. You never want water to puddle or build up on the shingles of your roof. Standing water on shingles can cause damage and likely lead to roof leaks. If the roof leaks it most likely will then leak into your attic, which can cause mold or mildew. Mold or mildew in the attic is never something that you would want. It is hard to get rid of. So keep those gutters clear of debris and replace any area of gutter that is damaged or rusted. An easy way to keep gutters clear of debris is with gutter guards. Sutherlands has those and all your roofing or gutter needs!
Overall, it is important to keep an eye on the condition of your roof. It is much easier to fix a few issues every once in a while than having all of the problems occur at once. If you wait too long to check your roof, it is likely a significant problem will happen to your roof and it could be quite costly.
