Legacy Roofing Advises Homeowners To Inspect Roofs Before Summer Ends

Legacy Roofing Services, one of the largest roofing service providers in the United States, recommends homeowners conduct a complete inspection of their roofing before the end of the summer to identify any work that needs to be done before the inclement weather of fall and winter begins to show itself.

Following are some suggested tips for making sure your roof is in tip-top shape and winter-ready:

• Have a trained roofing professional do a complete visual inspection of the roof to identify missing or loose shingles, cracks, missing nails and other openings that could cause potential leaks.
• Clean all gutters of leaves and debris to allow water to quickly drain from the roof without pooling or backups.
• Ensure all drains and gutter pipes are securely fastened and not separating from the outside of the home.
• Check for rodent damage and active rodent activity. Squirrels and rats can wreak all kinds of havoc on a roof. Fix any damage and have an exterminator put a rodent control program in place.
• Look for heavy moss or green growth alongside of exterior walls and on the ground around the base of the house; this could indicate excessive water flow off the roof and signal a gutter problem.
• Make sure there are no tree limbs touching or near any part of the roof. Trees should be kept trimmed and at least 5 feet away from the roof.

In addition, the experts at Legacy Roofing remind homeowners they can learn a lot about the health of their roof by going into the attic and inspecting what is underneath. Homeowners should look for moisture buildups, discolorations or rotting that may indicate a leak, crack or missing shingle. One suggested test is to light a lighter and hold it still; if the flame “dances,” that means there is ventilation in the attic. If the flame does not move, this indicates there is no air movement and ventilation might need to be addressed. Poor ventilation is a leading factor in a roof failing prematurely.