Weymouth Here's Your DIY Roof Inspection Guide

The Do It Yourself Roof Inspection



Certainteed LandMark Shingles

Your Weymouth (and all other towns on the South Shore of Massachusetts) roof is exposed to scorching sun, high winds, driving rains and heavy snowfalls, which make it one of home’s toughest-working systems. All that contact with Mother Nature can wreak havoc on the surface and interior structures. A regular inspection is essential to its longevity, especially as we enter what is shaping up to be an active hurricane season.

Read on for a three-part plan that will help you identify problems and potential solutions.

1.    Inspect the exterior. On a warm, dry day, inspect your entire roof for loose tiles, warped shingles and detached flashing. On some roofs, you can see a lot by using a pair of binoculars. Experienced roof workers can also climb on the roof to inspect the surface. We wouldn’t recommend that you climb on the roof yourself, but if you do be sure to recruit a family member or neighbor to be your spotter and ensure that you get up and down safely. NEVER climb on the roof alone.
 

Solution: If you do find damage, make plans to replace the shingles and reattach flashing. You should also call Almar Building & Remodeling, (Hanover Ma) to do a more thorough roof inspection and go over your repair and replacement options with you in detail.

2.    Inspect the interior attic space. Look for damaged wood and any indications of water penetration. The presence of mold can indicate poor ventilation; wet building materials; or an improperly vented bathroom, kitchen, and dryer exhaust. Mold growth in attics cause potentially hazardous living conditions, not to mention property depreciation and or structural damage.

Solution: If you find moisture issues in your attic, it’s best to call in the professionals. Almar Building& Remodeling can repair leaks or make recommendations for a roof replacement, if necessary. You can sometimes reverse mold issues by clearing out the affected insulation that is blocking soffit vents. Other times, an electric attic fan and humidistat is necessary. A pro, (Like Almar) can also seal wire holes, light, or pipe penetrations, or redirect exhaust vents.

3.    Look for moss.  Moss thrives on roofs that face north and areas that see little sun. The presence of moss will dramatically reduce the lifespan of your roof because it traps moisture and holds it in place. Wet shingles are prone to rot, and the excess moisture will promote more damage in freeze-thaw conditions.

Solution: Using a pressure washer to clean off moss is not recommended because the high-powered stream will force water beneath your shingles, potentially causing more long-term water damage. Instead, start by brushing off the majority of the moss with a large broom. Then apply a moss remover specifically formulated for roofs. Call in a moss removal specialist for the safest and quickest removal. If you decide to do it yourself, call in a friend to be your safety spotter.  Again, Almar recommends you never climb on your roof alone.

4.    Check and clean your gutters. On a warm day, inspect your gutters for blockage. A blocked gutter can force water back up and into your roof. You also want to also want to look for any cracks, holes and sags.

 Almar finds that many leak issues are caused by gutters not being properly cleaned out. This is your first line of defense.

Solution: Using your gloved hand, clean out gutters by scooping out the debris into a trashcan. You can follow up the cleaning by rinsing the interior of the gutter with the hose. Use gutter repair compound to fix any cracks and holes. For sagging gutters, add or replace gutter hangers in the areas that need it.

As always if you’d prefer to have one of Almar Building & Remodeling’s  (Hanover, Ma )professionals come and inspect your roof just give us a call 781-826-2577.  Making sure your roof is in good working order is so important because it really is your homes first line of defense from water damage.

Almar’s team can replace your roof in no time. And whether you want a standard sturdy single like Certainteed’s XT (25 or 30), and Architectural Shingle with a bit more dimension and style to it like Certainteed’s Landmark, or something a bit fancier like the Certainteed Hatteras we can make suggestions that fit your budget, needs, and style just let us know what you need.