Your home’s roof is the most important component to ensuring that it is in weatherproof shape to withstand the climate, regardless of how little it rains, and keep the interior of your home sound and dry. Although the life expectancy on most roofs is quite long, it is common that from time to time a roof will need repairing, depending primarily on the quality of the original roof and the materials used and the ongoing maintenance the roof has received over its lifetime.
If you’ve recently had roof maintenance work done to your roof in the form of a roof repair, you should inspect the roof once it is complete to assess whether it was a quality job. Here’s how you can tell if your roof repair was a high-quality, professional job and some home roof repair tips for the future.
Check the Fastening Nails in Your Asphalt Shingles
Traditionally, asphalt shingles are installed using a set of four nails that are evenly spaced across each shingle. Using the correct method, the shingles will be fastened securely – which prevents them from blowing off in high winds and also helps to prevent water from getting under them.
A common problem with the installation of asphalt shingles is when the nails holding the shingle to the roof are uneven or not driven in all the way. Problems can arise when installers use a nail gun, which can cause the nails to not be fully sunk or can drive nails into the seam of the next course of shingles. If the nail is driven all the way through the shingle into the protective membrane, this will essentially render the shingle useless.
A great way to stop leakage or blow-offs before they occur is to carefully inspect your new (and old) asphalt shingles for any protruding or unevenly spaces fastening nails. One indication of a quality repair job is if the asphalt shingles are evenly and properly fastened. If you see even spacing between nails that are sunk as deep as possible, it’s a sign that an experienced professional performed your roof repair.
Inspect the Condition of the Roof Material
During a roof repair, all torn and worn asphalt shingles on your roof should be replaced. A clear sign that your roof is in need of repair is if the shingles are curling up at the edges or have become brittle and bald of granules. Since an indication that replacement of roof shingles is needed are granules in your gutter, you can inspect your gutter pipes after a post roof repair rainfall to assess the quality of the job.
If you have a wooden shake or shingle roof, it should be void of dry rot or warping after your repair job, and if you have a metal roof, all pitting, rusting, and corrosion should have been addressed during the repair.
Check the Flashings Around Chimneys and Vent Pipes
A roof’s flashings are an important part of waterproofing your home, especially when your home has a chimney or dormers. These flashings are the pieces of metal that protect uneven areas of the roof, particularly in the hard-to-reach areas surrounding a chimney, dormer, or vent pipe. Faulty flashings can allow water into your home, causing rot and other damage to the home’s interior.
A quality roof repair job should not exclude the repairing or replacement of such flashings, which ensure that your roof is completely sealed. Putty or tar can sometimes be used in place of aluminium flashing, but the latter is the best option.
No Moss? The Roof’s Underside is Dry
When inspecting your roof after its repair, it is important to look for signs of what is going on beneath the surface. Moss or lichen on your roof can be a sign that there is decay beneath your shingles, and therefore this green inhabitant should not be ignored.
A competent roof repair company would have noticed this problem and notified you, so if there’s no moss on the roof, you can have confidence that a professional roofer was at work on your home. If moss is a problem on your roof, your roofer should have installed zinc strips with the nails positioned near the peak of the roof.
Keep An Eye on The Inside
After a roof repair is completed on your home, it is especially important to keep an eye on the inside of your home for any changes, particularly when it comes to water. This can be an ongoing process as the only way to check for new leakage is to wait for the rain. So for at least a few rainfalls after your roof replacement, ensure you check the surfaces of your home – walls and ceilings – and your attic for new water leakage.
The best thing you can do as a homeowner looking for a roof repair is hire trusted professionals who will do the job right the first time, and for a good price. Give us a call at (08) 8343 5988 to receive your free consultation – we provide the best roof repairs Adelaide has ever seen!
