Lots of rain can cause you big problems with a leaky roof.
Check the roof for any penetrations.
Check for nails that did not get covered by the next row of shingles.
Damaged mortar can be the cause of leaks even though it is rare, so check the mortar on brick walls and chimneys.
Cracks along the tops of a stucco wall.
When gutter details or edge details are improperly installed, they can cause water to back up over the fascia and run along the soffit.
When you have carefully checked your roof without finding anything wrong, inspect the ceiling space or attic because you may have a plumbing problem instead.
A poorly designed HVAC unit may have a faulty pan in it and allow water to get into a building when it rains.
Check for areas where leaves and branches gather or other debris accumulates because water flow may be blocked and back up under roofing material.
Keeping water away from the house is very important to the structure. Water that ponds near the foundation needs to be controlled and there are two ways to tackle this problem. First, if you can add topsoil to the areas that have sunk, this will eliminate the water from ponding. If additional soil can not be added because of the height of the soil already on the house, a French drain should be installed. This is and underground drain pipe that collects water when the soil is saturated and allows for the water too disperse. The ipe is 4” in diameter and installed under the ground a couple of feet deep. It lays on a bed of gravel and should slope to the area of the property that has a natural fall. The fall of the pipe should be abou 3/8” per 10 feet. As the water gathers in the pipe, the slope of the pipe will remove it from around the house.
After a storm of high winds you might check the shingles on your roof.If they where improperly nailed you will probably be missing a few.To replace missing shingles you first must remove the nails with a pry bar, these nails are holding the shingles in place.There are 4 nails at this point and four nails holding the shingle above which went through the missing shingle.That brings us to eight nails that need to be removed.Take the matching strip of shingles and renail in the existing holes.Use some roof tar to cover all the nail heads.
Chlorine (bleach) being used around the exterior of your home can have damaging effects to your home.
No Pressure or Zero Pressure Roof Cleaning usually means that your roof is being saturated with (Pool) Chlorine. After all, it is a product manufactured to kill bacteria in swimming pools that is inexpensive for the applicator. This product is applied to your roof and allowed to kill the fungus. What most homeowners fail to realize are the short and long term effects of this method.
Chlorine breaks down the asphalt causing extensive granule loss (Which are placed on the roofing material for UV protection)
Shingles become brittle and begin to curl thus shortening the life 5 to 7 years.
If Chlorine is allowed to penetrate beneath the roofing materials chances are the nails or staples used to attach the shingles to the roof will corrode allowing avenues for shingles to become loose and cause leakage.
Can cause severe damage to the gutters and drip edge molding around the roofline.
Kills, flowers, grass, shrubs and contaminates soil.
In most cases, this method will VOID your shingle Manufacturers Warranty.
As reported by the Cool Metal Roofing Coalition and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, installation of reflective metal roofing can save your home up to 40% in summer cooling energy costs while highly emissive metal roofs can reduce urban air temperatures by as much as 12 ° F. Combined, these benefits mean less money out of your wallet, less dependence on energy resources and less general air pollution in your neighborhood and across the nation.
While asphalt traps heat…
Metal Roofs reflect solar energy…
And pigments re-emit heat.
The secret to metal roofing's energy savings is in its variety of finishes. As shown above, the basic, unpainted metal roof will reflect much of the solar radiation usually absorbed in your attic and home by an asphalt roof. But, for homes in warmer climates, pre-painted or granular coated metal roofing systems not only reflect solar energy but also cool your home by re-emitting most of what solar radiation is absorbed. Where annual cooling loads dominate, a highly reflective and highly emissive painted or granular-coated metal roof is optimal for reducing energy consumption and can actually re-emit up to 90% of absorbed solar radiation.
Additionally, most metal roofing, including standing seam, is composed of recycled material and can be installed directly onto an existing asphalt roof, reducing landfill waste and promoting quick installation as well as decades of environmentally-sound, maintenance-free strength and beauty
If you have aluminum gutters then I am sure you have problems with them always being dirty.To clean them is a problem because many cleaners do not work and you have to get the ladder out and scrub the gutters down.I have the answer and a tool that will help you with this project.I recommend using Purple Power as the cleaning agent.Spray it on to the gutter and allow to sit. A gutter cleaning applicator called Marxoff will make this cleaning go very smoothly.It screws on to a broom handle or adjustable pole and the applicator is shaped like the gutter.From the ground just wipe the applicator across the gutter and wow it will do a great cleaning job. Check it out at www.Marxoff.com
If you have a leak in your roof or maybe a seam in the gutter is causing a drip I go t a product you should try it is properly named Leak Stopper.
It is a big advancement in roof patching and repair. This long lasting rubberized repair is specially formulated to penetrate deep into damaged areas and stop roof leaks instantly! The secret is Penetrex™, a unique penetrating oil that reaches deep into the crack and forms a complete seal. With the addition of liquid rubber, this flexible, high performance plastic cement provides a superior watertight bond that will stop problem leaks for good. Product formulated to be used year round. Leak stopper is ideal for a variety of roof surfaces including Shingles, Built-Up Roofs, SBS Modified Roofs, Metal Roofs and many other surfaces.You can trowel or brush it on which is great for lining gutters or in a caulking tube for shingle repair.
You see it every where you go.It’s not just on the north side of the home but all sides of the roof.Its black streaks.No it is not mold or jet fuel residue. It is algae and fungus that is living off the limestone in fiberglass shingles.New roofing shingles have metal particles in them to prevent the growth of this fungus.This airborne fungus goes from house to house in the neighborhood.So if your neighbors roof has black streaks there is a good chance yours will also have them.These streaks can be cleaned using an oxygenated bleach.It is mixed with water and sprayed onto the roofs surface.Allowed to sit on the roof for 6 to 8 weeks and the fungus will disappear.There are many roof cleaners on the market and in my opinion this is the safest for the roof, gutters, vegetation and you.
It was not that long ago we talked about ice dams and gutter issues. Well, now it time to inspect and repair them.First make sure they are tight to the fascia board. If they have pulled loose from the board, re-nail or replace the nails with gutter screws.Make sure the gutters are clean as spring rains will return shortly.I would also check to see if the gutters leak.Leaks are found in the seams of the gutter near the downspouts or where the lengths of gutter connect.To repair these leaks you will need to clean the affected area with paint thinner.After cleaning apply an elastomeric sealant over the connection piece and seam. You might also run the hose down the downspout to make sure there is no blockage.This will insure that everything is draining properly.
Large portions of the country have had a lot of snowfall the past several weeks.Ice dams are becoming a big problem as the snow melts at the top of the roof and freezes above the overhang of the house and in the gutters.Installing roof cables before snow falls is an excellent way to prevent ice dams.We now have roof cables that save energy.Self-regulating heating cable provides reliable freeze protection of roofs and gutters. It automatically adjusts to the appropriate heat output as ambient conditions change, making it both energy efficient and cost effective. The protective waterproof outer jacket is suitable for wet applications in downspouts and roof drains. easy to apply. Simply trace the gutter or roof and energize the cable when precipitation is expected. From that point on, the cablewill rapidly increase its output when in contact with snow or ice, providing maximum melting power. When the roof and gutters are clear of snow and ice, thecable will regulate its output and save energy.
Here is a little myth vs. reality regarding chimneys. Myth --- Unused chimneys do not need inspecting. Reality ---- Oh yes they do. Cracks can develop in the liner leaving the chimney unsafe. Birds love to build nest and create obstruction in the chimney. Annual inspection allows you to solve problems before they become big ones. Myth-----Just focus on the chimney structure. Reality--- Blockages and build up of creosote causes most fires and carbon monoxide poisonings. Myth--- annual inspection about $50 Reality--- Typical inspection is around $150-$250 anything less somebody is going to try to sell you a lot of extras. Myth --- good cleaning takes about 10 minutes Reality---- A normal sweep will take an hour or two to complete.
The Dow Chemical Company announced in October that is will begin selling photovoltaic shingles next year with a wider roll out in 2011. The product can be installed in a manner similar to traditional asphalt shingles, according to the company. These shingles provide many benefits including producing electricity and offering the same reliable protection of asphalt shingles. The photovoltaic systems offer a lot of flexibility and can be used in a variety of applications. On-tie, off-grid and hybrid off-grid systems are all used and offer cost saving benefits. Grid-tie systems are the most common type used by businesses and homeowners and are connected to the utility network. Off-grid systems are stand-alone and are designed as remote or back up applications. A set of batteries is required by these systems to store electricity to be used during cloudy periods.
Many things will help make your home cooler in the summertime and warmer in the winter including ventilation, insulation and roofing materials. Sometimes a cool roof is achieved by color and sometimes by materials, but the results are the same; a roof that reflects the sun rather then transferring it to the attic and the house below. Light colors will help keep the house cool. If you are planning a new roof for your home, research the most energy efficient materials at www.coolroofs.comProper roof ventilation will also keep your home cool the proper formula for this is for every 300sq feet there should be 1 square foot of uninterrupted ventilation.60% of that number is for the intake or soffit ventilation and 40% would be the roof venting.The department of energy will have the recommended thickness of insulation for your home. It all depends on where you live and the temperature extremes.
Don't procrastinate when it comes to replacing or repairing your roof's shingles – if you do, any damage that already exists will only worsen over time and make future repair jobs a nightmare.Asphalt shingles are the most common used in roofing today, so this article will focus on repairing this type of roofing material. Deteriorating shingles are usually curled or loose, especially after a strong windstorm. At the points where shingles overlap, flashing may also sustain damage.
For loose shingles, lift carefully and then apply plastic roofing cement beneath the shingle to hold it in place.
If you find any small cracks, repair them by with roofing cement – trowel it into the cracks and wipe up any smears with a cloth dipped in solvent.
Patch torn and split shingles with roofing cement and then secure with roofing nails.
Shingles that are damaged beyond repair need to be replaced entirely. All you have to do is slip a flat shovel underneath the shingle above the damaged one to loosen the nails. Pull the nails out and take off the ruined shingle.
Cut a new piece of shingle and place in the desired spot, after measuring for a good fit, of course – align with adjacent shingles.
·The best method is to drive the new nails into the holes left by the old shingle – if this is not possible, simply use roofing cement to seal up the old holes. ·Coat the nail heads with roofing cement and press the upper course into place, weighting it down if required
We talk an awful lot about how important it is to have your gutters in good operational order. Free flowing, good slope, pulling the water away from the foundation. If that's not occurring, of course the basement can leak. But what do you about the problem when the water is getting behind the gutter? Well, the first thing you do is check the facing of the gutter itself, usually installed with nails. Just make sure that they are secured into the roof rafters. Now, after you have checked out that the gutter is installed properly, and you're still getting water behind the gutter, here's what I want you to check. Check the shingling material. It should actually hang over into the gutter. And a lot of times, that falls just a little bit short, and we start getting water behind the gutter. An easy fix to that. You can actually get some aluminum flashing. It comes in large roll, you can cut whatever length you need. And the way you cut it, just get yourself a tin snip, wear gloves, go ahead and cut the length that you need. And then you can bend it on the edge of a table, edge of a step, just any type of bending type of apparatus that you can use. The top part obviously tucks underneath the shingle, and the other part goes into the gutter. Now, when it rains, it's going to catch on this flashing and roll it into the gutter stopping your leak
Many of us are working outside these days. . . either painting the house or cleaning the deck. Well how about those aluminum gutters?Are the dirty looking and streaky.If that is the case you can clean them and even paint them if you like.Soap and water will normally NOT clean the streaks off the gutters. I found several products that do work like: Simple Green or Armor All Multi Purpose Cleaner.Spray on and let sit for several minutes then spray again and scrub.If you want to change the color, that to is possible.Duration paint exterior can be applied to clean aluminum gutters without the need of a primer.
The summer time means cloud burst of rain and flash flooding around homes.One area you need to concern yourself with is the downspouts around the home.They take all the rain water from the roof area and move it away from the home.In most cases the downspouts direct the water into pipes that run underground and away from the home.In areas where the downspout deposits the water right next to the foundation, you need to make a change.Soil erosion will rapidly take place and the basement will begin to leak. There are devices that channel the water 6 ft. away from the home which is ideal.If you have good soil slope away from the home, try using rocks to break down the flow of the water which minimizes erosion.I recommend several layers of rocks about the size of your fist.
Generally speaking, new shingled roofs should last upwards of 20+ years. However, many factors, such as proper installation, climate, and ventilation, impact the life of your roof.The following are some area of the roof that might be telling you that replacement is in your near future.
Curling, blistering or buckling of the shingle is a sign that the roof is beginning to fail. The small sandy grains of sand that protect the shingles will become loose from the shingle and you will find an excessive amount in the gutter.Any sign of moisture in the attic area such as on the truss, joist, roof underlayment or water spots on the ceiling is a sign of trouble ahead. Even if your roof shows signs of the symptoms, you may not need a total roof replacement. A trusted roofing professional can give your roof a thorough examination and let you know if you are in need of a new roof, or just a few repairs.
Those who find themselves needing new shingles this roofing season may be surprised to find prices rising even though the home-renovation market has slowed and petroleum costs less than it did last summer. The price of asphalt shingles, which cover the vast majority of houses in the United States, rose 57.5 percent from March 2008 to this past March, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics' Producer Price Index. This year, it went up 3.8 percent from February to March alone. But this year, there may be a surprising factor at play: Asphalt is most in demand for roadwork, and government attempts to revive the struggling economy include an infusion of money for roads. Manufacturers said roofing-shingle prices rose in March "due to the shortage of asphalt.
In addition, hurricanes, hail and other roof-damaging weather can drive demand for shingles up rapidly. The bottom line is that homeowners shouldn't expect bargains on new roofs, even as home values and the overall demand for housing renovations have plummeted. "We're not foreseeing any big price increases" in coming months, said Bill Good, executive vice president of the National Roofing Contractors Assocation. "But we're also not seeing any big price drops."
Attic ventilation is very important to keeping your house cool in the summer.A properly vented home will have ridge or roof vents to allow the hot air trapped in the attic to escape.The hot air is pushed out of the attic by air being sucked in through the vented soffit. These soffits are usually on the overhangs of the house beneath the gutters.At times the soffit vents will become dirty or they will be painted over covering the openings on the vents.When this happens the attic can no longer expel the hot air that is trapped.The problem makes the upstairs warmer and makes the air conditioner work extra hard costing you operating dollars.To fix this problem clean or replace the soffit vents.
If you find a leak around the fireplace or on the wall near the fireplace or on the backside of the chimney in the attic here are a couple of places to look: The first place would be the very top of the chimney.There you will find a concrete pad which is called a crown wash.This area can become cracked or may need to be sealed or replaced.Silicone caulking does a very good job filling any type of cracking in the concrete pad.
Now look at the metal flashing that tucks into the mortar on the second course of bricks on the chimney.This area can be sealed will a thick Brush able sealant which can be troweled on or brushed. Also replace any cracked mortar with a mortar mix and make sure the chimney is sealed with a good quality masonry sealer.
A tremendous amount of damage to your home can occur if the gutter system is not well maintained.Make sure the gutters are clean from all debris. Check the seams and make sure there are no leaks. If you find a leak in the gutter seam, clean the seam with denatured alcohol and seal with a Brush able sealant made by Gelsco it is flexible and will not crack like roof cement.Now check to make sure the gutter is tightly anchored to the home.The gutters are usually hung using gutter nails and the nails must penetrate into the joist not just the fascia.Over time debris, ice and wind may loosen the nail and enlarge the hole. Hammering the nail back in position will not solve the problem.I recommend a gutter screw to takes its place.The screw is slightly larger and will not loosen over time.
Ice dams can cause big time water problems on the inside of the home.When a heavy snow covers the roof of your home and begins to melt at the top of the roof but not downat the bottom by the gutters, it spells big problems. See as the snow melts to liquid form and hits the snow pack by the gutters some of it will freeze and some will work it’s way back up the roof and under the shingles and enter your home.A reason that the snow pack is melting might be inadequate insulation in your home.By adding insulation to the attic the area will stay cold and minimize snow melt until the outdoor temperature wars.Check the others homes in the area and if yours is the only one with icicles and snow melt you need insulation.
The next time it snows you need to prepare yourself for ice dams. Ice dams form in the gutters around the home when the snow melts faster at the top of the roof instead of the bottom.When this occurs the water freezes in the gutter creating a dam. Before damage occurs in the house you need to eliminate the ice.A pair of panty hose and ice melter ( not salt ) works great. Fill the legs of the panty hose with the ice melter and tie them at the waist. Simply lay the legs of the panty hose across the top of the ice dam and leave it there for a day. The ice will melt and will not be corrosive to the gutters.
If you have factory painted aluminum gutters there is a good chance they are dirty with black streaks running down the facing of the gutter.
If you have factory painted aluminum gutters there is a good chance they are dirty with black streaks running down the facing of the gutter. Just not every cleaner will take care of this problem but here is a couple that will clean and brighten those gutters.Simple Green , purple Power and Krud Kutter Gutter cleaner will eliminate the problem.First spray the gutter and allow the cleaner time to work…..usually about 10 minutes and then rewet the area to be cleaned. Take a cotton cloth and wipe the gutter down.The gutters can also be painted but would still need to be cleaned.If you decide to paint the gutters use a good grade of acrylic primer followed by an acrylic exterior top coat.
There has been considerable storm damage across the country and many people have lost pieces of vinyl siding.
There has been considerable storm damage across the country and many people have lost pieces of vinyl siding.Siding can be reattached to the house with the right tools and if there is no damage to the siding itself.If you can not find the piece of siding from your home or if it is damaged you will probably have to buy new siding.Make sure and get the same brand and color and this maybe very difficult.Vinyl siding, even though the color is baked through the siding it does fade fairly rapidly. The darker the siding color the better chance that the new siding will not match.So search around for the old siding and ask your neighbors if they picked it up out of their yard.
There are several ways to evaluate the condition of a roof after a severe storm.
There are several ways to evaluate the condition of a roof after a severe storm.To check for possible storm damage, survey the roof with binoculars, carefully use a ladder if necessary.Don’t climb onto the roof surface, it may be unstable.Look for torn or missing shingles, dented metal roof vents, broken tiles from wind, rain, or hail impact, also roof indentations.Warped and dented sometimes exposing the wood or insulation.Water spots also another sign.Once you suspect roof damage, call your insurance company or adjuster and get a professional to repair that roof.
If you have a skylight in your home you may notice a discoloration on the drywall.
If you have a skylight in your home you may notice a discoloration on the drywall.This could be caused by several things; a leak in the skylight, condensation on the skylight or a leaky around the skylight. Leaks around the skylights are generally a result on water running up a roof usually caused by an ice dam. Leaking of the skylight may be fixed by lifting the shingles around the skylight one shingle at a time, and removing any debris found under the shingle.The debris can be removed with a shop vac or a whisk broom. Then apply roof cement into the area where the shingle meets the flashing.Take a look at any seams or joints that can be sealed with a silicone or urethane caulking.There is also a product called Storm Patch which comes in a tape form that can be applied over joints to seal them.
Ever wonder about the life span of your roof?Most roofs last around 20 years.You can however buy roofing material today that will give you 35 years of service.Here are some tell tale signs that your roof is failing. Curling on the corners of the shingle is a sign that the roofing material is becoming old and brittle and will soon need to be replaced. Cracking of shingles is another sign of aging. We will often find pieces of shingles in the gutter system or large amounts of the granular material from the surface of the shingle. The granular material protects the shingle from the UV rays of the sun.When they begin to fall off the life of the shingle is decreasing. Blistering is another sign of problems with your roof. If you have these problems a roof replacement is around the corner.
If you are going to install gutters on your home here are some quick tips.
If you are going to install gutters on your home here are some quick tips. The gutter needs to be sloped to downspouts in order to carry the rain water away from the house. The slope is as follows; for every 10 feet of gutter there should be a ¼” fall. In other words if the length of the area is 20 feet long the slope would be a half an inch from end to end.First create a level line across the area with a string and a line level and then mark your slope. The slope can be marked on the fascia board using a chalk line. Make sure that when you anchor the gutters that the nails or screws go into the joist and not just into the fascia board.This is especially important if you are installing the gutters with the nail and ferrule system.
© 2012
