Spring – the season of new beginnings and rejuvenation. As the weather starts warming up to pleasant levels after chilly cool winters, people tend to spend more time outside. It’s a pleasure to step out and enjoy after spending a long time staying inside closed doors.
However, it is not all rosy when it comes to the spring season, especially for homeowners or commercial property owners. The extremely low temperatures of this past winter and exposure to snow takes a toll on your properties’ exteriors. So, people should not only look into the cleaning of home interiors, but it is advisable to check the exterior part of the home too for any kind of damage that may have happened over the winter.
The roof is an essential part of the building, provides warmth and shelter against wind, rain, and various environmental conditions. So, it has to be durable enough to last for a more extended period. Ice and snow can cause extensive defacement and damage to the roof. If the homeowners detect any problem early and get it fixed, they can save the roof’s structural integrity or lead to costly repairs.
Here are the top six roofing problems to watch for in spring:
Common Roofing Problems faced in spring
Damaged or Missing Shingles
Shingles bear a lot during winters. When high-speed winds blow, the shingles may get uprooted. Similarly, heavy snowfall can put excessive load on the shingles, and this can cause the shingles to buckle. During spring, when the ice and snow melt, the water can pick up shards and broken shingles with it, which further opens up the gap for the water to seep through the cracks. This can cause leakage inside, mold formation, pest infestation, and much more.
During spring, you can do a basic inspection from the ground itself to reveal the apparent issues, but contacting roofing contractors in Texas offers a thorough review of the entire roof and takes you off from a situation that demands emergency repair.
Clogged or Damaged Gutter
Gutters direct water away from the roof’s edge and the siding, protecting the exterior side of the walls and the foundation. However, if the gutters are not cleaned regularly, debris such as twigs, leaves, broken shingles accumulate and clog the gutters. Water accumulation in the gutters can lead to rusted, cracked, or loose gutters. Eventually, a poor gutter system changes the direction of the water flow from the roof, seeping into the eaves, leading to overflows, rot, and structural damage.
To prevent such damage, take time and check over the gutters inside and out. Remove the debris, and run water through the gutter to check for leakage. Additionally, one can install screens on the gutter openings as a preventive measure to intercept debris from getting into the system.
In any case, hiring a commercial roofing contractor is advisable. So that gutter issues are fixed soon before the spring rains cause further concerns.
Chimney Deterioration
Ice and snow mostly rest on the top of the roof, which can create problems for the chimney when the snow starts melting due to the temperature getting warmer in spring. Cracks can happen if the chimney is old enough, but water and moisture can pierce and pass through it as bricks in the chimneys are porous even if it is not damaged. The experts from this roofing company can explain how to properly maintain your chimney to prevent water damage during the thawing season. Regular inspections and timely repairs can help you avoid costly structural issues caused by moisture infiltration.
Just like in the case of shingles, the spring season can be brutal on chimneys as water can seep through the cracks between the joints of the chimney and the roof, causing leakage. This further causes chimney deterioration and damages the underlying structure of the home. Unfortunately, moisture damage is the common roof problem faced in the spring season. Therefore, checking out chimneys at regular intervals is judicious.
Pest Infestation
During winters, creatures search for a comfortable place to keep them warm. Thus, the chances are that small creatures like birds, squirrels, and raccoons may try gaining an entrance through the roof to create their cozy dwells inside if your roof has loose flashing and siding, corroded fascia boards, or a dormant chimney.
Pests are primary carriers of disease-causing microbes, and the loose flashing can also become an entry point for water to seep inside. Of course, checking this would require you to inspect your attic, and if you could hear an eccentric buzz at home or hear scratching noises at the onset of the spring season, you get the intimation that some illegal dwellers are still residing at the roof.
Once you get all the creatures removed, you can call Residential roofing in Tyler, Texas, to get the roof inspected and repair any damage on time.
Check for Leakage
Roof leakage is one of the most common problems building owners face. However, there may be several reasons for roof leakage, major wear and tear on the rooftop results in leakages. If you can determine the location of the roof leakage- by checking for cracks in the flashing, near skylights, near the chimney, around gutters, close to vents and pipes, dampness on walls, or even if you find discoloration near the ceilings, there is a dire need of roof repair specialists.
What if the water gets absorbed in wood, wallpaper, or drywall? It may lead to bubbling, stains, or mold growth in areas not easily detected. Infiltration of water into the interior of the property can cause hefty damage to furnishings and decor. However, addressing the roof leakage promptly can prevent you from getting into a worse situation.
Problems due to Faulty Installed Flashing
The flashing is a thin metal layer that seals the area where the roof is fastened with chimneys, vents, skylight windows, or against walls. If the flashing is improperly attached, seams may open, endangering shingles to be blown off, leading to low resistance in the roof, enabling short life expectancy.
Simultaneously, sealants, the delicate building materials that protect rooftop flashing, also crack forming gaps. This dissociation allows water to sneak in and disfigure the flashing further.
Getting a roof inspected in the nick of time by professional roofing contractors in Texas keeps you at bay from bigger problems.
Some Spring maintenance tips to extend the lifespan of the roof:
- Washing rooftop surface
- Clean gutter systems
- Schedule Inspections through professionals
- Infrared moisture survey
- Repair leaks
- Trim trees
- Replace worn shingles
Get Your Roof Inspected
Everything needs maintenance. A routine check-up is advisable for everything, whether it is the living thing such as the human body or non-living thing such as the residential and commercial roof. If you get the roof inspected frequently, it remains intact. But if you detour the routine maintenance, the minor issue may lead to major plight.
Wrapping Up
So, if you want to be sure about your roof’s condition, get it inspected by professionals. Whichever season it may be, our professionals assess the roof carefully and propound if repairs or replacements are needed. If you are based in Tyler, Texas, allow the professionals at Steele Roofing to take care of all your roofing needs- from roof repairing to replacement services.
