A roof in good repair protects your home and its contents, including treasured heirlooms. It is important to promptly identify roof damage when it occurs.
How to Identify Roof Damage
There are two basic kinds of damage – storm-related and long-term. Whenever your roof is damaged in any way, it is important to aggressively identify problems before they get worse.
Storm-related Issues
After a storm, do a visual inspection from the ground. Look for large branches or tree limbs that may have crashed into the roof. Watch for missing or damaged shingles or flashings. It is ideal to have trained personnel do a careful inspection of your roof. A professional can safely walk the roof without risking injury or further damage.
Long-term Problems
Roof damage or deterioration can also happen over time. To reduce potential repair costs, it is ideal to do several visual inspections and arrange for annual professional inspections.
Sometimes, the problem is as simple as built-up debris in the gutters or the valleys of the roof. Watch for curling, lifting or buckled shingles and streaks or stains. Aging shingles also tend to lose their protective granules. When this happens, you’ll see the granules accumulating in gutters or on the ground below. Look for problems with flashings around chimneys, vents, skylights and other protrusions.
Emergency Repairs
Extreme changes in the weather as well as unexpected accidents frequently damage roofs throughout the year and as a result, quick action is needed to protect you, your family and your home. A responsive roofer can quickly cover damaged areas with tarps. After a thorough roof inspection, appropriate repairs can begin. It is important for a residential roofing contractor to work well with insurance companies in such situations.
Roof Inspections and Maintenance
There is no better way to be proactive than to arrange for regular roof inspections by an experienced roofing contractor. A professional residential roofing inspector knows how to look for early signs of developing leaks and damage.
This is also a good time to have a reputable roofing contractor clean out gutters and deal with unwanted moss, insects or rodents. Removing dirt and debris improves drainage and the overall appearance of your home. As tree limbs grow, they pose an increasing hazard, so it is best to trim or remove problem branches.
Roof Repairs
A roof inspection may reveal the need for important repairs involving:
- Missing or damaged shingles
- Popping nails
- Damaged caulking or flashing
- Chimney, skylight or vent pipe issues
- Ponding water
- Damaged gutters
Fortunately, it is possible to complete many basic repairs at a modest cost. Qualified technicians can promptly identify and replace damaged shingles, flashings and caulk. After repairs, shingles lay flat once again, reducing the chance of lifting in future windstorms. Gutter repairs ensure proper water drainage.
Repeated storms and simple aging often lead to certain repairs. However, faulty installations of various roof components sometimes cause leaks as well.
Re-Roofing
If your roof only has a single layer of asphalt shingles on it, it is often possible to apply a second set of shingles over the originals. However, if a roof already has two layers of shingles on it, a tear-off is usually required by local safety codes. Re-roofing is a cost-effective way to renew your roof and ensure the protection of your home and its contents. Warranties on new shingles offer peace of mind.
Roof Replacements
At some point, almost every homeowner is faced with the question, “Should I repair or replace my roof?” In general, minor repairs will often extend the life of your roof. However, it is often more cost-effective to replace aging roofs and those with significant damage. Eventually, repeated repairs to a deteriorating roof are just not worth it. It is like the dilemma posed by older, high-mileage cars. At some point, they become too expensive to maintain. Postponing an inevitable roof replacement may be a costly mistake.
A roof replacement offers a number of important benefits.
New Roof Warranty
A new roof installed by a certified residential roof contractor typically comes with a generous manufacturer warranty. Note that there are both manufacturer and contractor warranties. With roof replacements, remember that contractor warranties are only as good as the roofing company that stands behind them.
Reduced Energy Use
Today, special highly reflective shingles are available. The Department of Energy details how they keep a home cooler, thereby reducing cooling costs.
Peace of Mind
The homeowner who selects a new, warrantied roof has peace of mind and future family budgets are more predictable. The likelihood of costly repairs is greatly reduced for years to come. Given today’s lower interest rates, it may be quite affordable for a homeowner to finance a roof replacement. The cost is spread out over many years, and monthly payments are often modest. Ultimately, it is important to work with a roofing specialist you can trust as you weigh the advantages of a roof replacement versus roof repairs.
Contact Us Today
CRS is a family-owned, full-service residential roofing contractor with a reputation for honesty, reliability and great service. Over the past four decades, CRS has grown into one of the top roofing companies in New Jersey. We appreciate the long-term relationships we have with many homeowners across northern NJ, including those in Bergen County, Passaic County and Essex County.
For friendly, expert assistance, please reach out to us to arrange for a roof inspection and a free estimate. We’ll gladly answer any residential roofing question you may have.
