Top 3 Phoenix Roofing Resolutions for the New Year
Along with most residents of Phoenix Arizona, you may have made your share of New Year’s resolutions. They usually involve kicking bad habits and adopting good habits.
Along with resolving to take better care of yourself, you may want to resolve to take better care of your roof. Its something you don’t give much thought to until you are in need of roof repair, and then it can become an emergency in a hurry.
1. This year resolve to take care of your roof before it becomes an emergency.
Leaky roofing can cause a great deal of damage. There is the visible damage, such as water marks and dry wall damage, possibly so serious that part or all of the ceiling falls in. Then there is the damage going on behind the walls and ceiling such as water damage to electrical wires and fixtures, wet insulation, and the growth of mold and fungus.
The first place to look for signs of water damage is in the attic. On a rainy day take a flashlight into the attic and look for signs of moisture, such as dark spots on the wood and wet insulation. Once you find evidence of a leak, the hardest part is locating the origin.
Water always flows to the lowest point, so where you see a wet spot may not be the origin of the leak. When it’s not raining, inspect your roof from inside the attic for any daylight showing through.
If you are comfortable doing so, go up on the roof and examine the most likely places for leaks such as; the ridge cap and any openings where things protrude through the roof, like chimneys, vent pipes, and anything that has a boot or flashing around it. Also look for low spots on the roof where the water pools.
If you are not comfortable doing your own roof repair, call a licensed roofing contractor in Phoenix Arizona.
2. Resolve to maintain your roof.
Your roof should be checked at least once, preferably twice each year and also after any major storms. If you can discover any signs of wear or damage early, often you can ward off more costly roof repairs.
Begin by examining the attic as described above. Then move outside and look up at your roof. Look for bumps and sags, which are signs of damage. Also look for sagging gutters. To complete the inspection you must access the roof, so again, if you aren’t comfortable doing this, call a roofing contractor in Phoenix Arizona. Don’t jeopardize your safety!
Be on the look out for missing or damaged shingles. If missing shingles doesn’t appear to be a problem, examine the condition of the shingles. Look for cracked or curling shingles or shingles that are balding. If the asphalt granules are worn away and the shingles no longer have the sparkling appearance the granules give, it may be time for a new roof. You may also have seen these granules in your gutters, sidewalk or driveway.
Additionally, watch for soft or sagging spots on the roof, loose nails, missing or loose flashing or cracks in any in caulked areas. Getting a jump on fixing these problems may prevent more costly roof repairs or postpone the need for a new roof.
3. Resolve to use only qualified roofing contractors.
Before hiring a roofing contractor, ask for references and check them. Look for a contractor that is licensed, bonded, insured and in good standing with the Better Business Bureau.
Arizona Roof Rescue meets all of these standards and all of our work is warranted. Our clients are number one and we are dedicated to seeing that they are 100% satisfied.