When Do You Consider Roof Replacements

| Wednesday, January 29, 2014
By Grace Rivas


When the weather is warmer it is a good time to see what home repairs are required. Perhaps you would like to renovate your kitchen, or spruce up your garden, but don't forget to check your roof. When you are noticing major leaks, the damage may already be severe, and full roof replacements will be necessary. However, if you inspect your house often then small leaks can more easily be repaired at a lesser expense.

Some people hire contractors to come and inspect their roofs, while others do it themselves. If you would like to avoid the replacement of your entire roofing structure, do thorough inspections every spring and fall. This is the recommendation of the National Roofing Contractors Association. The inside of your home should be carefully inspected.

When inspecting the interior, look for places where the ceiling may be sagging, any signs of water damage or leakage, dark spots or trails, or for places where you can see daylight through the ceiling. Any of these things could indicate a serious problem.

If you feel capable, you can inspect the outside as well, by climbing onto the top of the house. Look for misplaced or non-existent shingles, any other types of damages and algae growth. Tiled roofing could have cracks or missing tiles which will need to be replaced.

When up on the top of the ladder, you can inspect the gutters as well. Look out for shingle granules in the gutter, and for rot, mold and moisture along the lower parts of the structure. Water may accumulate in areas that are unlikely, therefore, do a thorough inspection. When you have found serious roofing issues, you should call in the experts for assistance.

Perhaps you won't need to replace your whole roofing structure, but by getting some help from a professional you can acquire more information. In many cases only a part of the structure will need to be repaired, for example, a few shingles or tiles. How much damage needs to be repaired may also depend on the type of roofing you have.

If you have tiles or concrete as part of your home's structure, then you can expect it to last for a long time. The life expectancy of tiles is about one hundred years, although they do break if they are put under pressure individually. Cedar roofs, however, only last about twenty years, and need more attention. They are found to come apart, and can be affected by insect attacks as well.

Although smaller portions of roofs can often be successfully repaired, those of cedar and several other woods with shingles may need complete repairs. Ideally, check your roof approximately twice a year. The inspections can be done by an expert if you are not able to complete the task adequately yourself.

Roof replacements are expensive but well worth it. When asked what is important in life, most people cite having a roof over their heads as the number one priority. Once you have your house in order it is imperative that you take care of it so it lasts for years.




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