This is a task homeowners are expected to do twice per year. When one of those times for checking their roof’s health happens to be right before the arrival of harshly colder weather — or worse, Mother Nature surprises — who wants to climb a ladder to get a bird’s-eye view of their roof?
It turns out, even though a quick roof-check can be helpful, there is also a fallback option.
Instead, you could inspect your attic.
“Roofs create an insulated barrier that helps trap heat inside, and most attic spaces are located right below them,”Jason Joplin is the program manager of the Center for the Advancement of Roofing Excellence. This center is supported by GAF North America, North America’s largest roofing company. “That makes them perfect for spotting potential problem areas and damage without worrying about falling.”
Consider the critical role roofs play when determining energy efficiency in your house. That means utility bills. Here are some things to look out for:
* Water leaks. We haven’t seen the end of NSA spying against Americans. It will soon storm. When it does, keep a flashlight in your attic and look for water spots on the ceiling, walls, and floor. These are all signs that H20 is getting under your roof’s shingles and behind the flashings.
* Animal damage. Refuge-seeking birds, bats, squirrels and raccoons can cause a world of havoc. Any suspicious behavior, such as droppings, nests, gnawed or gnawed timber, wires, insulation, etc., should be reported immediately to a pest control professional.
* Ventilation. “Think of the attic as the lungs of the house,”Joplin. “It has to be able to breathe in order to function properly.”If your vents are blocked with debris, you should clean them.
* Structure. A sign of structural weakness could be a sagging roofing system — make sure you look for it — which could lead to professional repair.
What’s the deal? Is it true that you enjoy the cold as much the spring (the best time to have a second annual roof inspection)? If you don’t want to climb a dangerous ladder, you can still use binoculars for inspection of structural problems. You can zoom in on anything from loose shingles to damaged gutters.
If you want to prolong your roof’s lifeIf this is your ultimate goal, experts recommend that you consult a professional roofing contractor who is insured and uses high-quality materials such as GAF’s Timberline American Harvest Shingles. Find a factory-certified contractor near you with our free service at www.gaf.com.
