Most of us who are lucky enough to have a roof over our heads tend to take that very structure for granted—we don’t think too much about it until there is a significant problem we are forced to address. If your roof hasn’t been inspected or repaired in a while, now might be a good time to call in a contractor and have them check to see if you need any of these three critical repairs.
1: Replace Missing Shingles
Sometimes when you have shingles missing it’s really obvious and you will see it right away, but in other cases the section of missing shingles will be really small, or it will be in an area of the roof that is not very visible from below. That’s why it’s so important to have an experienced roofing contractor in Bedford come and inspect the roof on a regular basis—they have the right equipment to safely check all areas of the roof, and can spot these missing shingles easily. If they’re not replaced in time, it could quickly lead to roof leaks and other structural damage on the underside of the roofing.
2: Repair Flashing
The part of your roof most vulnerable to leaks is actually not the shingles (as long as they were properly installed by a skilled professional roofing contractor in Bedford). The most vulnerable areas are on the flashing, or the small pieces of metal that surround protrusions from the roof such as the chimney, skylights, or vents. Since these areas represent a break in the shingles, your flashing needs to be in good repair to prevent leaks around the protrusions, and shouldn’t be rusted, dented, or have pieces missing.
3: Keep Gutters in Good Shape
While those gutters along the edge of your home are not technically part of the roofing, they play a very key role in keeping the roof shingles in good shape over time. If the gutters are broken or filled with debris, they might be contributing to water buildup along the edges of the roof. Over long periods of time, this water exposure will lead to shingle damage and most likely roof leaks. Excess moisture in the attic can also lead to mold and mildew growth, which is hard to clean. Keep those gutters repaired, clean out the debris, and replace rusted sections to keep water flowing.