Atlanta, Georgia Home Maintenance

The Most Common Causes of Roof Leaks:

-- Improper flashing around chimneys, plumbing stacks, skylights, etc.
-- Missing or broken shingles.
-- Tears in roof valleys.
-- Ice damming due to improper run-off, forcing water back up under the shingles.
-- Improperly hung gutters or drip edge.
-- Improperly installed or wrong type of roofing.
-- Cracking or deteriorated chimney caps.

Get Your Roof Ready for Rough Weather

When you get down to it, a good roof is all that stands between your home and family and the damaging rain, snow, and wind of winter.

To keep a sound roof over your head, inspect your roof twice a year to stop damage before it starts. Here are some hints on what to watch for:

-- Leaky, inadequate or deteriorated flashing (the metal used to seal bends and joints around vents, skylights, chimneys and so on) can lead to
water damage in the house. Look for holes, tears or buckling in the flashing. Experts estimate more than 90 percent of roofing leaks occur
in these areas.

-- Next, look for any damaged, loose or missing shingles or any that have blistered or buckled.

-- Make sure shingles are firmly secured and sealed to the roof, especially around the roof edge where wind, driving rain and ice dams (when
water freezes and backs up under the roofing system) can do a good deal of damage.

-- Inspect and clean gutters, leaders, window wells and drains of all leaves and debris and make sure gutters are firmly secure to the house.
Direct downspouts away from the foundation and clean them of any debris.

-- If you see any dark, "dirty-looking" areas on your roof it could mean algae growth.

Keeping a good roof means starting with quality materials and keeping up with an effective maintenance program done by a professional roofing contractor. This can save you time, money and trouble, prevent costly repairs and prolong the life of your roof.

"Fall-proof" Your Roof:

As fall blows into town, take a look at your roof. Limbs that grew during the summer may be hanging down too close. If branches are actually hitting the roof, they can trap moisture and cause mildew. Even if they're not actually overhanging, branches will shed leaves and clog gutters-or worse yet snap during storms and damage the roof.

Your first and perhaps most important general maintenance step is a simple cleaning. Using a push broom, sweep off accumulated leaves, pine needles, and heavy buildups of dirt that could slow down the natural flow of rain off the roof and lead to leaks. Work from the top down, sweeping in the direction of the shingles. Do not sweep across the shingles or up at them from below, which can catch the shingle and potentially loosen it. Never clean the roof by spraying it with a garden hose or pressure washer. This can easily force water up under the shingles, and the wet roofing becomes very hazardous for you to work on.

As you work, pay attention to the gaps between the shakes or shingles, which are called keyways. The keyways are part of the roof’s natural “gutter” system, helping to channel water to the ground. If the keyways are blocked with debris, carefully clean them out with a stiff brush or dull putty knife. Avoid sharp blades that can damage the wood.

Remove any tree limbs that are scraping against the roof, or that overhang it enough to causing heavy shaded areas or heavy buildups of leaves or needles. Check gutters as you go, and clean or repair them as necessary. Also, if you have a roof with multiple levels, the downspouts from an upper level gutter should never dump directly onto the roof below – the heavy, direct flow of water can damage the wood and lead to leaks. Instead, direct downspouts all the way to the ground.

Also as you go, check the condition of roof vents. Vents provide the air supply that keeps your attic cool, and to get the maximum life out of any type of shingle you want to be certain that no debris is blocking off that airflow. Check also for cracking, rusting, flashing damage, or other problems that could lead to leaks around the vents.

Mold and mildew are a fairly common problem on wood roofs. Left untreated, the growth can lift the shingles and allow easy entry for water, and will also break down the wood itself. Heavy buildups of mold can be initially removed with a stiff broom or putty knife. Once again, work with the shingles and avoid gouging into them or getting under them and lifting them up.

After the heaviest buildups are removed, spot-clean the affected area with a solution of trisodium phosphate (TSP), mild detergent, bleach and water. TSP is available at paint stores and home centers, and there are mixing directions on the package.

Infrared Roof Inspection:
Many roofs need to be replaced prematurely due to moisture damage from leaks and improper installation. Thermal infrared inspections are non-contact, non-destructive testing procedures. This technology is used in finding damaged portions of roofing structure so they can be repaired before water damage rots the entire roof.

We strive to earn your continued business with each and every visit to your home. Our goal is to provide you
with the extraordinary service you should expect, while treating you and your home with respect and care.