Homeowners usually don't consider an annual roof inspection but it is actually

critical to add to your house maintenance to-do list! It can help you get an idea of

the health of your roof and inform you of possible financial decisions you may

have to make regarding your home. If you haven't had a chance to get it done,

now is a great time to schedule one to kickstart the new year!

The roof is the protection system of your entire home. If damage is caused to it

and it is left untreated, it can cause additional damage even to the inside of your

home (walls, floors, ceiling, etc). Without the annual inspection, you may never

know that you have damage and then the problem could get bigger as time goes

on.

Southern Star Roofing and Seamless Gutters recommends that you routinely

schedule an annual inspection even if you don't think there is damage. Our

skilled experts are very detailed and notice smaller issues before they can turn
into larger ones. Addressing these issues sooner rather than later, will help not

break your wallet when the issues become more costly and larger down the road.

Usually, we recommend scheduling your inspection during the fall due to the

majority of roof damage happening during the winter season with harsher

weather conditions like rain, winds, hail, and snow.



Though, it's never too late to schedule an inspection! It’s always better to

schedule as soon as possible to avoid serious damage in the future. This is

something you don't want to take a chance on, especially because your home is

such a large investment. It only takes one nasty storm to leave your home

exposed to the elements and cause further havoc.

We always recommend that you are somewhat familiar with your roof so that you

can catch potential problems and keep an eye out for them. However, it's always

a good idea to bring on a roofing expert at least once a year. They are highly

skilled and knowledgeable in this field to notice small details that can trigger

bigger problems elsewhere or see signs of future damage. For example, you may

not think that cracked shingles are a large problem but they can actually diminish

your roof integrity which could be a catastrophe during a big storm. These things

are what the experts are trained to look for on your roof.

Debris like garbage, dirt, leaves and dead bugs in your downspouts and gutters

create the perfect environment for all sorts of creatures to nest on your roof. It's

always a good idea to clean out your gutters and keep them clear of gunk and

debris to prevent these critters from becoming unwanted guests!

Remember our cracked shingles example? That is physical damage. Also, nails

that are popping out, and missing shingles or peeling shingles are all physical

damage examples that would need repairing before you get hit with any more

nasty weather.

Your roofing inspector will also be checking for clogged gutter systems which can

lead to drainage issues. For example, if you get a large winter storm and water is

blocked from draining, it can freeze in your gutters and cause them to rip away

from your roof! Improper water flow and drainage can also make its way INTO

your home and cause damage as well as to the exterior such as foundation

issues! Talk about a stressful, extensive, and EXPENSIVE fix!!

As time goes on, issues like stagnant water on your roof can cause warping or

buckling if they are left alone. This is why it's important to keep your routine

checkups on your roof. We are skilled to spot the potential pooling areas before

they become extreme issues.

As we know, you can't control the weather or wind so that's why it's always a

great idea to keep the trees and branches around your home pruned away from

your roof to avoid any that could break and fall through it. What an unpleasant

surprise that would be! Take time to groom your landscaping ever so often as

your trees and things grow throughout the year and remove possible problems

before it's too late. When temperatures get below freezing it's common for the

additional weight of frozen water on branches to cause tree limbs to snap and fall

off.

Roofers would check for:

- Missing tabs

- Granular loss

- Corrosion of metal elements

- Fading (not crucial but its an aging sign)

- Coating not intact

- Punctures or holes

- Stagnant water

- Cracks or warping (“alligatoring” when the sun dries out roofing creating

alligator-type skin)

- Blisters (when water vapor gets trapped under the coating and bubbles up)

- Metal corrosion

- Leaking skylights

- Chimneys

- Flashing (waterproof material that's on joints and edges)

- Fascia Boards (boards that hang under the roof's edge)

- Soffit (siding that protects rafters from being exposed to the elements)

The last thing you want is to have a big storm or severe weather and find out the

hard way your roof is damaged. Having your annual roof inspection done asap

takes the stress off of you and your family when nasty weather does come. You

can relax and trust that your roof has been inspected and is structurally sound.

Southern Star Roofing and Seamless Gutters have a team of highly trained

professionals who you can trust to give you an honest assessment of your roof

and provide you with affordable options for repair or replacement!



Call us today to schedule an appointment!

979-721-9983