A leaking roof can cause devastating destruction and damage to a home, as it can wreck walls and ceilings, causing water to drip on furniture and other items, and render electronics unless. Taking the time to provide the appropriate maintenance to prevent leaks from happening is a great idea, as most of the measures are relatively inexpensive tasks that can prevent a huge further expense. Here are some top tips to help you prevent a leaking roof.
Look Out For Rust
Rust ruins metal and thus can make it weaker and more likely to corrode and break. It’s important to inspect your roofing and be on the hunt for any rusty screws that should be replaced with new ones that are yet untarnished. It’s a good idea to check for rusty parts and replace them at least twice a year, as the weather they’re exposed to can cause rust to set in rather quickly.
Metal roofing is also substantially more at risk of rust, which can cause holes to form and appear, making leaks far more likely. Thankfully, modern metal roofing is far more durable as it is treated with a weather-resistant coating that can offer extended protection against rust forming.
Clean Your Gutters
The gutters that run around the perimeter of a roof are important as they give rainwater and melted ice an avenue to drain away. If these gutters are blocked up with debris such as sticks, twigs, and other junk, then rainwater might not be able to flow away as effectively and can spill over the gutters and seep into walls and ceilings, causing leaks and other forms of water damage.
It’s important to make sure your gutter is in good condition, so if this isn’t the case, it’s a good idea to get a contractor in who can provide quality gutter installation to help further protect your home.
Replace Damaged Shingles
Damaged shingles such as ones that are cracked, slipped, or broken can provide a single point of failure to allow rainwater to seep into your attic and cause leaks and other forms of water damage. It’s important to replace any damaged shingles instantly, as water getting into your home can cause rot and mold to grow, which can not only affect your health but also damage key structural materials such as support beams. Replacing shingles isn’t too expensive and is far cheaper than having to deal with a much greater problem than ignoring these broken tiles can create.
Maintain Your Flashing
Flashing is one of the critical components in the assembly of a quality roof and is used to seal bends and cracks on the roof. Flashing prevents heat and moisture from penetrating these areas, so it’s important that these are maintained to make sure they’re not compromised. Visible gaps, rust, cracks, and other imperfections in flashing can be hugely problematic, as flashing impacts how snow, water, and ice run off your roof and into the gutter. If there are any cracks or imperfections in your flashing, it can provide an opening for water to start leaking into your home.
Flashing is most often used in the areas around a chimney, so be sure to pay a lot of attention there when surveying the condition of your roof.
