The weather changes significantly when springtime hits. Not only do things warm up in Frisco, but there are going to be rain showers and wind storms. These weather events, along with months of winter, can really take a toll on your roof.
Many people think of spring as a time for annual cleaning and a fresh start. You can also apply that logic to your roof. This is the perfect time to do an inspection and assess your roof to see what types of repairs and maintenance may be needed.
When was your roof installed?
One thing to consider is simply the lifespan of your roof and when it was initially installed. For instance, if you have a metal roof, people often consider this to be a roof that will last for life. It could last for around 70 years. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it will last as long as you live there, depending on when it was installed. You still need to look for signs of damage, cracks, rust and much more.
Additionally, asphalt shingles are the most common roofing styles in use today. They are often cheaper and easier to install, but their lifespan is only about 15 to 30 years. This means that you can’t simply have a new roof installed and forget about it, as repairs and maintenance could start to become necessary rather quickly. Plus, many homeowners are not sure when the last owners had the roof replaced, so your roof could be older than you think.
Why do inspections matter so much?
With age and wear and tear in mind, you can see why it’s so important to assess the quality of your roof. Maintenance goes a long way toward protecting your home. And it’s about more than just fixing or repairing the roof. One of the biggest things to keep in mind it’s just how much damage water can do inside your home.
For instance, if there are cracks in the shingles and a small leak in your attic, 99% of the roof may still be in good condition. But that 1% that is not can allow rot and decay to start in the beams in the attic. If water makes it down to the lower levels of your house, you’ll start to see discoloration on the ceilings or cracks in the drywall. Damage that is hidden is often worse than what you’ll initially see, so you could open up the walls and find that you have tens of thousands of dollars worth of water damage. All of this comes from a small crack that you didn’t even realize was a major problem. That’s why being proactive is important. You can prevent a lot of damage simply by maintaining the roof properly.
What steps do you need to take?
Many steps in an inspection could be done yourself, so you don’t necessarily have to get roofers on the job and have them quote what it’s going to cost for a new roof. Here are some things to look for as a homeowner in Frisco:
- Check inside to see if there is any evidence that water is getting into the home. It could be as simple as bubbling paint or discoloration where water has seeped into the rafters.
- Look at the roofline. If there has been rot and decay inside the house, the rafters or trusses will sometimes sag. You may see that one side of the roof doesn’t appear even or that the line between the peaks is lower than it should be. Even a little bit of variation should not exist, so it could be a major problem inside the home.
- As you clean your gutters, you also want to look for any evidence of wear and tear. This could include nails that have fallen out, allowing shingles to be lost or blown away. It could also simply include asphalt grains that have fallen into the gutter as they wore away from the shingles themselves.
Finally, you want to look for clear signs of damage, such as places where shingles are missing. Maybe they were torn off in a rainstorm. Maybe shingles are curling and cracked from the beating sun over the years. Maybe the flashing has pulled away from the building, allowing water to get underneath.
What do you do if there is extensive damage?
If you do find damage, is that you want to act quickly. Roofers are often quite busy at this time of year. You want to set up an appointment to have them do their own assessment and determine how repairs should be made.
It can help to check with multiple companies. One company may say that they can repair the damage, while another will suggest that you replace your roof entirely. Another may tell you about different materials that would be better as you repair your roof. The more opinions that you can get, the more likely it is that you’re going to make the right decision.
It’s also important to consider your homeowner’s insurance at a time like this. Damage to your home could be covered, so you need to know exactly how this process is going to work, what type of coverage you have and what options it gives you. Additionally, if you have a new roof installed or have extensive repairs made, you want to make sure that your insurance is going to cover this investment.
Here at Frisco Insurance, we can help you explore options from multiple insurance companies to make sure you have exactly what you need. Call us today.
