How To Have A Trouble-free Roof With These Simple Roof Checks

How To Have A Trouble-free Roof With These Simple Roof Checks

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Most homeowners don't give too much thought to their roofs. Many believe they have a good 20 to 40 years before they need to worry about the roof, and who's to say they'll even live in the house that long? However, a roof should be on the minds of homeowners who have to endure harsh northern winters.

The fact is a well-maintained roof can indeed last for years. While the roof might not be a purchasing point when someone is buying a home, a faulty and poorly maintained roof can be a deal breaker when it comes time to sell your home. A neglected roof is an eyesore and can depreciate the entire value of a home in the eyes of a purchaser.

So what can you do in order to maintain your roof, and make sure you aren't shooting yourself in the foot when it comes time to sell your house? Here are some things you can do to avoid these situations:

1. See to it you inspect your roof and attic twice during the year. Do this in the spring and in the fall. This will let you see any internal and external damage that might exist before summer rains and winter snow comes along. It's best to get these issues fixed when the weather is temperate.

2. Make sure there are no leaves or debris hanging out on your roof. Be especially sure to check out the chimneys or the other structures on the roof, such as the overhangs. Leaves and debris also clogs up rain gutter. If the water builds up in the gutters, then it will damage the roof. So, make sure that all the debris and the leaves are removed completely.

3. Be on the lookout for cracks in the roof, and also lookout for missing tiles or shingles. If you find that anything is cracked or missing, repair these immediately. You can check the roof from the attic space to verify if there is damage in the tiles or shingles. If your attic roof is damp, then this is a sign water is seeping down into the attic roof.

4. While you're checking for water that has seeped down into the roof, lookout for bulges or un-evenness. These are signs you need to call upon a roof maintenance specialist right away to find out what is going on and getting repairs.

5. Other signs of water seeping into the roof past the shingles or tile is the growth of mold and fungus. If these are allowed to grow, they will infest the home. At an extreme mold and fungus can totally destroy your roof.

6. Make sure there is no snow or ice build up on the roof in the winter. If the snow is allowed to build up past a foot, then it has to be removed. Otherwise, the roof can cave in from the weight of the snow. If you must go on the roof to remove the snow, then simply use a broom. But of course, be extremely careful about walking on the roof, so that you don't damage it. Ice damming is when ice builds up at the bottom of the roof's edges. This prevents the proper flow of melted snow water from the roof, so that it can flow into the gutters. If this takes place, increase your attic insulation. Or, you can buy heat strips that get applied above gutter areas. These work by assisting the melting of ice and snow. Then, the melted water can flow through the gutters, instead of clogging the gutters.

Slate roofs are highly durable and last a long time if maintained properly. One drawback with slate is it tends to become very brittle when it's frigid outside. If you have to remove snow on a slate roof, then hook up a ladder on the side of the house and walk across the ladder. This ensures you aren't putting too much weight on one area of the roof. Also, wear soft soled shoes whenever walking on slate.

The bottom line is you should make seasonal roof maintenance a part of your household maintenance plan. This will ensure your home is protected by a strong and well maintained roof that protects your house, and makes you home protect its resell value.

About the Author:
Bill McCormick is an experienced real estate agent and owner of a Re/Max Executive Realty office covering the market in the metro-west Boston area. Bill specializes in Houses for Sale in Grafton, Mendon, Milford and Upton Massachusetts towns. His website has more tips for house sellers and buyers at http://www.billmccormick.com



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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