5 Reasons You Should Install Gutter Guards on Your Roof

Gutter guards installation is one of the major concerns for homeowners. A roof that has no gutter guards is vulnerable to clogging and may cause some serious damage to your roof, resulting in costly repairs. You can opt for gutter cleaning, but it is not a permanent solution. An effective option is to hire professionals to install gutter guards in order to avoid costly repairs in the future. The blog discusses five reasons why you need to hire a residential roofing contractor in Dallas, Texas to install gutter guards on your home. Let’s get started:

1.Check Flooded and Mold Infested Surfaces

If your gutter system has no gutter guards, rainwater will accumulate and flow into the areas  that are meant to be dry and clean like the basement. Water accumulation in these areas can lead to mold and mildew growth causing damage to the property and leading to allergies.  Installing gutter guards plays an important role in preventing these problems. 

2.Prevent Fascia and Soffit Damage

The soffit and the fascia are very close to the gutters and as result are vulnerable to rotting if your roof has no gutter guards. When the gutter guard gets clogged, it becomes difficult for the rain water to pass. The rainwater spreads to the fascia and soffit leading to mold and mildew causing your soffit boards to rot and, eventually, fall. If the situation is ignored for a long time, you may need to repair the gutter and roof. 

3.Protect the Foundation from Damage

Flowing rainwater can erode the foundation of your home causing it to crack. Erosion has an weakens the foundation causing cracks and leakages. Neglecting the problem can damage the foundation and lead to expensive repairs. Installing gutter guards can help you avoid the problem.

4.Prevent Landscape Erosion and Heaving Driveway

If you have a lot of trees close to your property, pay special attention to ensure that the gutter guards are properly maintained. Roots soak up all the water that causes the gutter to get clogged and water accumulation around your property. Growth of complex around your proerty causes serious damage to the foundation and driveway leading to costly repairs. 

Conclusion

Gutter cleaning is a temporary solution, so it is advisable to install gutter guards to prevent costly repairs. Properly maintained gutters play a crucial role in preventing costly repairs. It is advisable to hire roofing professionals to for the regular maintenance and cleaning of the gutters. 

5 Easy Ways to Gauge Roof Damage

Identifying damage to the roofs after extreme weather conditions such as tornadoes and hurricanes may be quite challenging. Roofs are open surfaces and undergo a lot of wear and tear. Inspecting the damages in a roof can be dangerous as they are very delicate and may cause slip-offs. Roof damage scenarios range from detectable breakpoints, leakages and invisible indentations. The strong storm winds may distort the roof shingles and pipes making it vulnerable to thundershocks. Worst cases involve wood rot formation leading to roof collapse resulting in casualties.

Is an individual roof damage analysis possible?

Yes, you can have a close look with binoculars or field glasses, but the results will be vague and inaccurate at the same time. Therefore, professional help from roofing companies in Dallas or any other area becomes inevitable. A roofing technician performs a quick analysis of the damage along with outlining possible costs for the fix.

How will you identify the signs of a storm damage to your roof?

Internal deterioration of the roof needs to be taken care of by a qualified professional. The 5 ways mentioned below help you to measure roof destruction.

• Broken or missing shingles

Strong winds can break and tear off your roof tiles and shingles. It is also advisable to check your chimney, exhaust pipes and roof walls for any visible damage.

• Dents in roof vents

Metal roof vents are susceptible to damage by the blistering winds or hail storm.

• Leaks and water damage

The damp looks of the roof ceiling or walls show the possibility of breakage of water tanks and pipes.

• Check roofing accessories and windows

Broken window panes and debris show a clear destruction of the roof structure.

• Scattered roof granules

Asphalt granules protect the roof against UV rays of the sun. Noticing dispersed or collected roofing granules indicates tearing of the roof.

The Bottom Line

Many people in the US perform individual roof audits to determine the amount of harm caused to the roof structure. It is imperative to have a concrete roof to prevent life hazards arising due to natural calamities as they are quite common in Dallas and across the US. It is , however, a good option to consult a professional roofer instead of estimating the damage yourself.

Essential Factors to Consider in a Roofing Maintenance Plan

Roofs, if not maintained properly and serviced on a regular basis may drastically deteriorate.  In fact,many roofing companies in Dallas, Texas withdraw the warranties they offer if the roof maintenance is not done properly. Therefore, it is advisable to invest a little more on maintenance every year, instead of spending a large amount on a major repair that you may undertake due to lack maintenance or negligence.

The following the factors you need to consider when initiating a roof maintenance project:

1. Regular inspection 

Carry out regular inspections of your roof. Doing inspection at least twice a year is what every roofing contractor suggests. Most damages usually occur before and after the season, and therefore, this is the time when you need to get your roof inspected. The harsh winter and the scorching summer are seasons that post maximum challenges. Besides doing the required maintenance work for these two seasons, it’s imperative to get your roofs inspected after heavy storm. 

2. Periodic cleanups

Keeping your building’s roofs and gutters clean helps prevent any dirt or debris from piling up on the roof or inside the gutters. If you are one of those people who believe in following DIY techniques, can easily clean it on their own. If you can’t, then hire the services of a professional roofing contractor in Texas to do the job. They would look for dirt, leaves, and traces of debris in the gutters and also check if there is any damage on the roof caused by ice damming.

3. Flashing inspection

Flashing is a metal piece used around vents, exhaust pipes, and chimneys, or used at joints in wall construction or roofs. It prevents water from trickling through the joints and causing damage. Mostly water seepage in a house happens due to damaged flashing. A faulty flashing allows snow meltage to enter the interiors, causing damage to the internal walls and infrastructure rot.

4. Attic check

Attic problems are hard to identify and needs regular inspection. Due to this reason, even if your roof apparently does not look damaged, may still need your attention. Attic molds are usually caused by issues such as roof leaks, ventilation problems, and others. To ensure that your roof is free from attic issues, get it inspected on a regular basis to find damage or leakage. If there are any signs of streaks or stains in any unfurnished areas of your attic, you need to resolve them immediately. 

5. Ventilation check

Proper ventilation is necessary to ensure that the roof does not get damaged because of freeze or thaw cycles that occur during the changing seasons. It also helps to maintain the temperature, preventing the attic from getting too hot during the summers as it may lead to the de-lamination of roof sheathing and loosening of the shingles.

6. Drainage system check

Clogging of water can damage your roof severely. In order to prevent water logging or standing water issues, your roofing system must have a proper drainage system. If there is a water logging issue despite having a clean drainage system, it may be an indication that there is a sagging issue.

Conclusion

Every roof inspection needs to be followed by a corrective action plan, or else the roofing issues would aggravate in the long run. If you are, therefore, spending your time, energy, and money in inspecting or getting your roofs inspected, also make sure that the necessary repair work is done on time. If you neglect it, it would only turn into a bigger issue later, and would also burn a hole in your pocket.

5 Roofing Mistakes You Must Avoid

How long your new roof will last is something that depends not only on the quality of the roof that you install, but also the experience and workmanship of the residential roofing contractor who installs it. It is, therefore, important for you to hire a qualified roofer who will not make rookie and costly mistakes. In this post, we discuss some of the most common roofing mistakes whose avoidance helps you get the maximum out of our new roof.

1. Improper Slope

If the materials you choose do not match the slope of the roof, it may lead to water penetration. For example, if one is installing wood, asphalt or tile shingles & shakes, it is recommended to have a minimum slope of four units rise per twelve units of run. 

 2. Ventilation Problems

At the time of laying down shingles, it is necessary to allow ceilings or attics to vent. Failing to do so can lead to build up of moisture leading to the premature weakening of the shingle material. 

3. Layers of Shingles

Many municipalities require old asphalt to be removed before installing the new one. Not adhering to this rule is illegal. Whether your municipality allows it or not, it is highly recommended that old shingles be removed before new ones are installed as the additional weight harms your roof structure and walls. Removing old shingles also allows your residential roofing contractor to inspect, and if need be, repair fragile areas.  

       

4. Improper use of Nails

If nailed incorrectly, or insufficiently, shingles can slip down causing injury to bystanders. A minimum of four nails per shingle is what we recommend. If the roof has a steep gradient then the minimum number of nails used should be even more, preferably six. Make sure that the nails aren’t driven into or above the self-sealing strip.

       

5. Failing to Plan for Ice Dams. 

For those who live in cold climates, it is common to experience ice dams that form along the roofline. If the roof isn’t insulated enough, these ice dams force water down the shingles. To prevent this, it is necessary to install an under layer in the roof to act as an additional layer and protect against the melting ice water. 

Conclusion 

Most roofing mistakes result from inexperienced do-it-yourselfers who have little or no prior roofing experience. The same is true for inexperienced or first-time roofing contractors touting cheap services. You must, therefore, check the roofing contractor’s experience, and if possible, check with their past and current clients about the quality of the contractor’s services.