If it's been years since a roofing contractor has climbed up on your roof to check the shingles and flashing, this could be the year to have it done. A good time for a roof check is in the spring after harsh weather has passed, but a roofer can check your roof any time of the year if necessary. Here are some things the roofer may do to check your roof and some actions they may recommend for getting your roof ready for another year of storms and sun exposure.
Clean Debris From The Roof
If your roof is littered with decaying leaves and small branches, the roofer may clean the debris off so the shingles can be examined thoroughly. If leaf clumps were decaying on your roof over the winter, the contractor may want to check those parts of the roof carefully for moisture and water damage.
In addition to cleaning off the roof, the roofing contractor may recommend you have your gutters cleaned out if they're full of debris. Your gutters should drain properly and empty quickly so they're ready for storms with heavy rains. Otherwise, water might back up and damage the roof.
Examine Shingles For Signs Of Damage
Shingle damage can be obvious sometimes when cracks and broken edges are easily seen. Other times, damage such as bruised areas and loss of granules isn't easy to detect. If too many granules have been lost on part of the roof due to swaying trees or wind damage, the roofing contractor might recommend replacing the shingles or adding new granules to the old shingles. The roofer may also recommend you hire a tree trimmer to cut back the branches so they don't scrape your roof.
Shingles can be examined more easily when the roofer views them up close. That's why having a check by a roofing contractor once in a while is important. A roofer will find damage that you can't see from the ground or that a drone might miss. They look for discolorations as well as cracks, loose shingles, missing shingles, and loss of granules. In addition, they might feel the shingles and deck to detect rot and water damage. They might even use equipment such as moisture meters or infrared cameras to look for hidden water damage on the roof.
Check The Flashing And Boots
Flashing can last for decades, but it can also work loose or develop rust holes. While metal flashing is durable, it is also a common area for roof leaks. A roof check includes examining metal flashing and rubber boots. Rubber boots fit around vent pipes, and they don't last as long as metal flashing. The rubber cracks due to sun exposure and needs to be replaced. Flashing should also be replaced or repaired if it is damaged in a way that allows rain to leak through.