Anyone that’s been a homeowner for the majority of their life, or at least for a few years, can tell about how important it is to maintain the one most important thing that keeps your house and you from being left exposed to all the elements in and around us. We’re talking about the roof of your house. This must be one of the most underestimated structures on your house and one which people tend to neglect a lot. We always think that if it’s there, no need to check it or get it fixed, but we can’t be further from the truth. This article will touch base on the various ways your roof can get damaged from natural occurrences such as climate changes to personal neglect and highlighting why you should not repair it yourself as opposed to hiring emergency roof repair. So, let’s dive right in.
Reasons A House Roof Can Get Easily Damaged
Fact that a roof is nowhere near our eye level, and most often it is a hassle to get on top of, we tend to ignore or think it a pain to check it for any breakages or damages, especially after weather calamities and take it for granted that it should be fine, until disasters strikes and you’re roof starts to leak or the tiles are blown off with a storm.
These things happen more often than we think. No matter what checking your roof regularly, especially doing an annual inspection of all the nooks and crannies will save a lot of bigger headaches in the future. There are a few things that can affect a roof and spoil it, some of these are mentioned below.
Extreme Weather
Natural Disasters Can Easily Cause Damage. There are some things in life we can control, and then there are other things that are out of our hands. This latter scenario has to do with the weather and climate changes. Even though we can predict when a storm is coming or there is rainfall on the horizon, we may never be able to know for sure what the intensity of it will be until it is in front of us. Much in the same way, the harm it will cause to anything structurally or otherwise is also another difficult thing to predict until it did and in the aftermath.
Things such as strong winds that constantly blow for long periods can and will uproot anything in its way, this is why tornadoes are such a disaster calamity due to its force and high pressure concentrated efforts, it takes with it anything in its pathway leaving barren land, and that includes roofs of houses and sometimes entire buildings and structures themselves.
This is a very common occurrence in the United States especially causing injury and fatalities in many states. According to the Enhanced Fujita Scale, tornadoes are classified into categories from weakest to strongest. An EF5 tornado is considered a high-strength one that affects property and structures. Winds that can get up to 65-85 mph can take off roofs of buildings and bring down trees.
Concrete structures and trains have been known to be thrown for miles due to force winds. Further insight into this type of natural occurrence can be found here, it is always a good idea to get clued about the different classifications before they happen so you are better prepared.
Rainy Season
Secondly, during winter or rainy seasons, this can also have a considerable impact on the roofs of any property or any structures that are waiting to get scorched and wet, making them weaker slowly as they go along. Heavy rain is also another thing to look out for. In cases where it rains for long periods of time, such as for a couple of days continuously, it not only weakens the ground which spoils anything that is on the ground, but it also weakens the structure if it does not dry quickly enough.
Anything that stays wet over a long time, has a tendency of losing its strength or footing. As a result, many times when it rains for long periods of time, you will find regions beginning to flood and houses being swept away because the ground beneath them becomes weak and soggy and cannot hold the structures anymore. If you’re worried about losing your roof, imagine your entire house being taken away by masses of water.
Heavy rains can spoil any building’s foundation, no matter how big or small and no matter how well it has been constructed. It costs the government and national bodies millions of dollars every year to rescue and remedy what’s left behind after heavy storms and rainfalls. It can lead to a string of other negative consequences such as mold in homes, gutters bursting, leaks through roofs spoiling the interiors, and causing damp flooring which is sometimes missed, which can in turn cause rotting on wooden floors.
Hail Storms
Another thing that often gets combined with rainfall is hailstorms. Even though some hailstorms may not be as big as others, it doesn’t matter because once they are coupled with the force it falls from above and wind or rain, they can cause twice the harm, nevertheless. Cars, houses, and people can get hit by these falling rocks and causing severe unfavorable scenarios that can also lead to fatalities and death. Even something as beautiful as snow has its downsides.
Snow
Snow has been known to cause just as much harm to structures as any of the other weather incidences mentioned in this article. Things such as breakage to your gutters, of wreaking havoc to the foundation when the ice gets clogged up around the property, it can also cause any wooden door or window frames to rot when ice builds up around them. The worse happens once the snow starts to melt because it can cause a flood right in your back yard, that’s why it is very important to clean it up as you go along and try not to leave it to gather in any spots you can read more here https://bestlifeonline.com/winter-home-damage/.
We all know how bad stagnant water is in terms of it being a health hazard, so trying to avoid this as best as you can make a huge difference to everything around and everyone around. Stagnant water, if not removed immediately can breed insects such as mosquitoes, and these have been known to spread many diseases and viruses such as malaria Zika virus (which can be harmful to pregnant women).
Other Things That Can Affect Your Roof Considerably
Not checking or maintaining your house or its surrounding structures can be hugely detrimental to it. Regular maintenance of it, when you own your one, is mandatory if you are trying to avoid exorbitant costs in the long run. As mentioned above besides the weather calamities that happen every year which are out of our control, if one does not maintain and do an annual check on their coverings, no matter what materials they are made out of they can spoil and eventually, you will have to pay out of pocket if the insurance companies do not pay out for any damages caused by anything.
Roof inspections are usually part and parcel of owning a home, sometimes it is not about just standing on a ladder and checking it out overall but rather looking at every detail both on the outside as well as the inside. Below are some tips on how to make sure you inspect you are covering thoroughly so as not to miss anything.
First and foremost, take a walk around the premises and look at every nook and cranny including the walls, windows, on top, and below inspecting the entirety of it for any cracks, inconsistencies, and aging elements. Perhaps make a list of everything you see that needs to get fixed.
Then get onto the top of the house using a stable ladder and harness. Look for things that are out of the ordinary, such as algae, mildew, mold, or debris and leaves piled up in a corner or anywhere on the surface where it should not be.
The shingles are the most important element to check, if they are any cracks in them or bends and weakness, jot this down and mark the ones that need to be replaced. If you have an attic, the warm air that evaporates from it can also sometimes cause them to curl up and hinder their structure, which means they do not cover the layer properly. If there are any missing, spoiled, or aged shingles, it’s time to get them replaced. Not only are they an eyesore but they will expose the inside of the top of the house to weather elements and things such as rainwater can go inside.
Check the gutters and make sure they are cleaned regularly as well. There is nothing worse than having your gutters clogged up by debris, leaves, dirt, or grime. These are there for a reason, and the sole purpose of keeping anything from staying on top of the building. If rainwater or snow has no exit point or pathway to flow, then it can clog up and cause a lot more harm to everything. Maintaining the downspouts is also fundamental to the process.
This may also be something that has not crossed your mind, but often the reason for such issues besides any weather reasons is due to the use of cheap materials. Houses are usually covered in a variety of materials and there are various types of contractors that one can hire in order to get it sorted out.
Unfortunately, not everyone is reliable or trustworthy enough to use the best and highest-grade materials, be it asphalt, wood, metal, slate, or concrete clay tiles when hired to do the job. Hiring the best and most professional licensed roofing contractors can make a huge difference, especially if they use high-end products that are all weatherproof, long-lasting, and durable. It is always best to consult knowledgeable specialists on the best types of tiles or roofing material to use that fits your building type, the area you live in, and your personal budget.
Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Try and Fix Your Roof Yourself
Having looked at everything and completed your inspection is one thing, getting it, all fixed properly is another. As much as a lot of us would like to take on a DIY project of fixing things in and around the home, there are few things that are better off left to the experts who have the right know-how and tools.
There are several reasons why you should not try roof repair by yourself.
- You Can Seriously Injure Yourself. This is an obvious one, but it is very easy to hurt yourself on unpredictable terrain such as the covering of your building.
- If Your Insurance Covers It, Why Put Yourself at Risk? Some insurances cover fixes such as these and if so, make good use of that and hire the best people for the job. Replacing a few shingles here is fine, but if the job is a big one hiring people that have done it numerous times before is your better bet. If not done well, your entire roof may collapse on you or your family, causing a whole other issue to get sorted out making the job even bigger for everyone.
- Temporarily fixing something, is not recommended. Fixing something is the quickest and easiest way is not advisable with this type of job. You need it done properly for it to last you a couple more years. If you fix it yourself using a temporary solution, it will eventually give way and you’ll be on top of the house again in a very short time.
It is a good thing to be able to maintain things by yourself, it is a useful skill, however in this case, rather than get it done once and done properly because out of everything else, you may be able to sort out, roof repair is one thing you should never compromise on for the risk of causing harm to yourself or your family.
