Your roof is always on duty. Protecting your home from the elements, it never gets a break and faces a constant assault of sun, rain and wind. You can help ensure your roof is in great condition all on your own by conducting a basic DIY home roof inspection. This can help you catch any problems early, before they develop into extensive, costly repairs.
Wondering what it involves? A basic roof inspection is simple. You can easily take care of it in about an hour. However, you will need to take safety concerns into account. Roofs can be dangerous. Follow our safety tips for a safe DIY roof inspection:
Let Someone Know
The first thing you must do is let someone know about your plans to be up on the roof. This way, they can lookout for you while you’re up there and be prepared to help if necessary.
Use a Safety Harness
Make sure you use a safety harness or belt with a lifeline attached to a strong structure such as the base of the chimney. This way, even should you fall, you’ll be caught by the harness and avoid serious injury or even death.
Practice Ladder Safety
Set up your ladder carefully on even ground. Stabilize it by anchoring your ladder both at the bottom and on your roof.
Move Slowly
The tortoise wins the race! Remember, move slowly and deliberately to avoid slips and falls.
Prepare Ahead of Time
If you’re planning on taking any tools up such as a crowbar or hammer to pull up suspicious roof tiles, make sure you know which ones you’ll need ahead of time and attach them to a tool belt. There’s nothing quite as frustrating as getting all the way up to the roof and realizing you’re missing tools.
Check the Weather
A wet slippery roof does not create ideal conditions for conducting your DIY roof inspection. Make sure you pick a warm, sunny day for getting up on your roof.
Know your Limits
If you’re not up to completing a roof inspection, don’t try to do it! Especially since you’ll potentially put yourself at risk for injury. When you know you’re not prepared to do it, call in the professionals at Tom Byer Roofing.
Now that we’ve covered safety, let’s get to the elements of roof inspection. What do you need to look for?
First, try to avoid walking all over your roof excessively. A roof inspection requires observation, but you should follow a plan to cover each area of your roof once, and that’s it.
Here are the key concerns you should search for:
Shingles
Look for misshapen shingles that are curling or blistering. Also, notice if there are any missing or broken shingles. All of these will need to be replaced.
Grit in the Gutters
If you find piles of grit that may be coming from your shingles, you may need to have all of your tiles replaced. The grit you see is supposed to protect your shingles from the sun’s strong rays. When it starts wearing off, your roofing may quickly become compromised.
Flashing
Notice if there are any rust spots or cracked caulking surrounding your flashing. Recaulk old caulk and replace worn flashing.
Rubber Boots
Around any puncture spots on your roof such as vent pipes, there’s a rubber piece to keep water from getting in. Over time, these can age and crack, meaning they need to be replaced.
Moss or Lichen
Notice any patches of moss or lichen that could indicate moisture accumulation and even rotting just under your roof. Don’t worry about black algae, though, that’s a cosmetic issue. You can have it washed off if you like.
Make note of the damage you notice on your roof. Then, you can make plans to continue to DIY or call in the professionals to help with any repairs. Remember, be safe and know your limits!
Looking for a quality roofer? In Orange County, contact Tom Byer Roofing Service at 714.892.1140. We look forward to serving you!
