Roofing Information For New Homeowners

Purchasing your first home can be an overwhelming process. Roofing contractors in Napa, CA offer advice to help you take care of your roof.

Congratulations! You’re a new homeowner. Purchasing a new home is one of the most significant investments that a person can make. As a result, you need to be armed with the knowledge to know how to protect the investment that you will call home. Over the course of the years, as you own your home you will periodically make changes to it to keep it structurally sound, weatherproof, and up-to-date. Your roof is likely going to be one of these changes at some point. Luckily, you don’t have to navigate this experience alone.

Finding a trustworthy roofing contractor to perform inspections, maintenance and repairs will likely save you headaches and money as you protect your home over the years.

Scheduling Annual Inspections

Your roof is arguably the most important part of your house. It is the first defense against the wind and the rain that threaten to destroy your home. A faulty roof can allow leaks that slowly destroy your house from the inside out. Giving your roof periodic attention in the form of inspections is the best way to ensure the integrity of your roofing system.

How often should you inspect your roof? As a new homeowner, it is likely that a roofing inspection was performed for insurance purposes some time during the purchasing process.

This report should have given you an idea of the condition of your roof. After you have settled into your new place, yearly inspections are recommended. Roofing systems are more complicated than just tiles or shingles.

As a homeowner, you should be vigilant to look out for leaks or obvious damage, but a seasoned professional can inspect all aspects of your roof, including the age of the sheathing, condition of the decking, and the integrity of the rafters.

Benefits of Routine Roofing Maintenance

Even though roofing systems are intended to last for decades, certain steps should be taken to get the most out of your roof. Roof maintenance consists of keeping it clear of debris, checking that all gutters and flashing are intact and verifying that all roof penetrations are still watertight.

Roofs are designed to shed water away from your home site. They work in conjunction with gutters to quickly remove water away from your home’s foundation. Keeping debris out of your gutters will prevent gutter clogs. Furthermore, cleaning the gutters regularly will ensure that rainwater is quickly removed from around your home.

If there are places that are more prone to leaks than others, it is usually near a roof penetration. Bathroom vents, gas vents, and plumbing vents are regularly piped through the roof. The sealants used to seal around these structures can degrade faster than the surrounding roofing material and shrink away from their pipes. Inspecting these penetrations periodically will allow you to keep them from degrading too far.

Problems To Look Out For

As you live in your home, pay attention to any changes that occur. As you keep an eye on your roof be sure to look out for:

• Missing or damaged tiles or shingles
• Damaged flashing
• Clogged gutters
• Rotting fascia boards
• Sagging roof pitches

All of these damages can easily be repaired but quick action is important. As soon as you have suspicions that your roof is compromised be sure to call in the help of qualified professionals.

Working With Roofing Professionals

Since your roof is vital to the safety and longevity of your home, be sure to trust it with licensed and experienced professionals. At Modern Method Roofing, we have over 50 years of experience serving the Napa, CA region. Serving both residential and commercial customers, we have the knowledge to help you with roof repairs or complete roof replacement.