Roof Maintenance | Roofing Guy

Roof Hail Damage Inspection Tips

Jul 292011

An active 2011 storm season has left many homeowners with damaged roofs across the entire United States. Estimates for hail damage alone are ranging from $1.5-$2 billion. It is important for home owners to have their roof inspected by their insurance company after any major storm events.

Here are a few tips to help you spot damage on your roof

Do you notice dents or pitting in the bottom of your gutters?
Do you notice dimples, dents, fresh black tar spots or bruises in your roof’s surface?
Do you see any cracks in the exterior of your skylights?
Are other caps or flashings dented or displaced?
Do you notice a large amount of black materials at the bottom of your gutter down spouts ?

If your notice any of the items above you should have your roof professionally inspected. Most times this is done free of charge by roofing companies and insurance agencies.

Check out this video of some extreme roof hail damage in Maryland:

Prepare Your Roof For Spring

Roof Maintenance No Responses »

Apr 042010

Preparing your home’s roof for spring can save you huge money by avoiding costly repairs caused by spring storms flooding your roof. Take an hour this weekend to see what effects late fall and winter has had on your roof.

Check for damage caused by winter snow and ice dams. Shingles and roofing support materials can be damaged by winter’s freeze and thaw cycles if water has penetrated the outter protective layer of your roof. Concrete and clay tile roof owner need to pay special attention to any broken or shattered tiles.

Gutter and downspout inspections are important to make sure the spring time downpours are routed away from your roof. Clogged gutters can allow rain to get under the lower placed shingles and damage underlying materials. Leaves, tree branches, and other materials collect in gutters over fall and all wash together with the first big rain to form frustrating clogs. I’ve even seen bird nests in gutters countless times.

The most important thing to remember when evaluating your roof this spring is Safety. Most reputable roofing contractors provide free inspections for homeowners. Read online reviews to find out which local roofers have the best reputation to avoid pushy salesmen.

Never Remove Roof Ice Dams with Open Flames

Roof Maintenance No Responses »

Feb 162010

Removing ice dams with open flames can have serious consequences. A two story house near Rockville Maryland sustained approximately $1.5M in damages after a group of workers ignited the roof while trying to remove ice with a propane torch intended to install rubber roofing.

Authorities were called to the 6100 block of Neilwood Drive shortly after noon. It took nearly 90 minutes and 70 firefighters to get the fire under control. Firefighters had to retreat from the inside of the home because of fears it would collapse.

Luckily, no one was seriously injured. One of the workers was taken to the hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.

You should never attempt to remove ice from your home using an open flame. I would avoid hiring contractors who employ this process. There are many experience companies that will safely remove the ice from your home before it damages your roofing system. If you are having problems finding someone in your area, you should search Google or Twitter for recommendations.

Roof Snow Removal – Calculate Your Snow Load

Roof Maintenance No Responses »

Dec 142009

Winter is here and it’s time to think about your Roof Snow Removal. Just how important is shovelling off your roof after a snow storm? Here are a few statistics to help you decide when it’s time to drag out the ladder.

How much does snow weigh? A square foot of snow 1″ deep weights 1.25 pounds. So if you have 20 inches of snow, you’ve got a 25lbs/ sq ft snow load on your roof. Ice weights 5.2lbs per sq ft so be sure to factor this in.

Most roofs can withstand around 40lbs/sq ft of snow load, while some older roofs and manufactured homes start to show damage around 30lbs/sq ft.

What’s worse than your roof buckling under the weight of the snow? Falling off it while shovelling after slipping on the stuff. Be careful! Hire a contractor if you’d like to avoid the risks.

Avoid Chimney Fires: Sweep Your Chimney Yearly

Roof Maintenance No Responses »

Nov 132009

Because the last thing you want to have happen on Christmas is for your house to explode into flames you need to start addressing one vital area of your roof area, the chimney.

You need to haul yourself (or pay someone) up a ladder and do your annual chimney sweep. First time home owners need not fear, cleaning a chimney is an simple but dirty job. Did you know nearly 1/5 of all fire calls between November and February are chimney fires.

It is critical to sweep your chimney every single year to avoid certain incineration. Do an hour of research and surfing Youtube for tips on your type of chimney .. it’s not as simple as buying a sweep brush from Lowes and tieing a brick to it. In fact, many flu’s can be damaged with such brushes.

If you’ve already taken care of your yearly chimney sweeping duties check in on an elderly person you know. Most death’s from chimney fires are from people above 70 years old.