Most people don’t spend a lot of time thinking about their roof. It sits on top of your house, minding its own business, out of sight, out of mind. Perhaps that’s why roofs are such a mystery to many of us. Here are a few questions that might come up about roofing.
Is there away to tell when your asphalt-shingled roof needs replacement?
First off, shingled roofs normally last about 20 years, so if yours is 20 years old or older, it either needs replacement or will soon. For younger roofs, a sure way to tell is to get a roof inspection. A professional inspector or roofer will look for cracked shingles or shingles that are curling or peeling off. They might also look to see if the granules are coming off the shingles. Inside your attic, a sign of a declining roof might be pinhole spots of light or signs of water damage under the flashing or around the chimney.
What does roof flashing do?
Flashing is usually galvanized steel or aluminum and it covers the area where the walls and roof meet on a house, as well as other seams and joints in the roof. It functions as a shield to prevent water from getting into these weak spots in the roof. Flashing tends to age a bit more quickly than the shingles themselves and it also has a tendency to come loose over time, so it needs to be checked as part of roof maintenance.
Is it safe to do my own roof repairs?
No! Aside from being high off the ground, roofs are pitched and if shingles get worn, they can be quite slick. Many homeowners are seriously injured every year from falling of their roofs, and in some cases, the falls are even fatal. Professional roofers are accustomed to the dangers and challenges of walking on a roof and can do it much more safely than you can.
Why do some people still have metal roofs?
When you see a metal roof, it may make you think of the 1930’s, but it turns out that some modern homeowners enjoy the benefits of metal roofs. Metal roofs tend to last longer, need less maintenance and hold up better in high wind and storms. The downside is that they can look rather odd and they do get noisy in the rain.
