How to Make Sure Your Roof Lasts

A new roof could add curb appeal and increase the resale value of your home. Here are some tips to protect your investment:

1.) Keep Your Gutters Clean: Keeping these clear is critical to making your roof last. Either going up yourself or hiring a professional each spring and fall to clean your gutters will ensure water won’t back up into your roof, causing sheathing or rafter rot.

2.) Make Sure Your Roof Surface is Clear: Keeping the roof clear of debris such as leaves and moss can make your roof last longer:

a. Leaves: Remove these while they are whole leaves from roof valleys with a soft car wash brush or specially made “roof rake.”

b. Moss: During the early stages of development you can manually sweep off moss deposits. As it develops, however, moss gets a bit more resilient. You’ll need to buy specialty soap to kill it first and then consider installing zinc strips on your roof to prevent regrowth.

3.) Prevent Ice Dams: These can be detrimental to your roof. We offer removal and prevention tips in this article.

4.) Regularly inspect your roof and make repairs right away: Look for any curling, loose or missing shingles after a heavy wind or rain storm or any damaged flashing around vents, chimneys or other openings if you think you have an unwanted visitor.

Now that you know how to make your roof last as long as possible be sure to call Pro-Quality Home Improvements for a quote for a new roof today in order to increase the curb and resale value of your house today!

My Roof is Leaking… Now What?

So it’s raining outside, but you notice that in one particular part of your house it seems to be raining inside. You’ve got a roof leak and while there’s never truly a good time to get one, being prepared for the worst is the best way to lessen the hassle and cost associated with this issue.

First you’re going to want to minimize interior damage. Move all furniture away from the leak or cover them with plastic if they can’t be moved. Put buckets or pans in place to collect any water falling from the ceiling and prevent any further interior damage. If the damage caused is substantial enough you may want to call your insurance provider and submit a claim.

Next it’s time to inspect your roof for the source of the leak and any further damage it may have caused. Remember that when looking for the source to check the entire region of the suspected area as roof leaks can ‘travel’ from the origin. Also look for indicators like discolored wood, wet spots, or even rapid pest outbreaks (ants, earwigs, pill beetles and other pests thrive off of wet wood caused by leaks). Also check outside for any deteriorated shingles or damaged flashing that is exposed as both could be the source of where water is getting in.

Finally it’s time to decide your course of action. If the leak is minimal, hasn’t caused that much damage and is perhaps caused by exposed, damaged flashing you can probably use roof tar to mend the space where water is getting in. However if the leak is large and has caused considerable damage you’re going to need to call a licensed roof contractor. Here on Long Island Pro Quality Home Improvements is renowned for expert roof repairs and having the utmost integrity. If you are experiencing an untimely roof leak, call today for a FREE estimate of our quality roof repairs and end this issue once and for all.

Ice Dams: Winter’s Trickle-Down Effect

As the cold weather continues to ravage Long Island and the heat keeps running it helps to be aware of the threat of ice dams. Ice dams form when there is snow on your roof, the surface of your roof is above 32° F and the air outside is below freezing. As the snow melts and runs down your roof it reaches the end of the roof, gets colder and refreezes forming a ridge of solid ice at the eave.

Dangers of Ice Dams

While the icicles formed on Ice Dams can be aesthetically pleasing, the danger they bring along with them can be very real

• Falling icicles can become a hazardous issue as the weather gets warmer.
• The icicles themselves can loosen shingles or even tear off gutters.
• Large ice dams leave nowhere for water to flow and can cause it to seep into your house. This can result in:
  • Warped Beams
  • Warped floors
  • Sagging and Stained Ceilings
  • Peeled Paint

Preventing Ice Dams

There are some steps you can take in order to prevent these menaces of winter from becoming an issue.

Properly Insulate Your Attic: heat escaping from your attic causes the snow to melt and start forming ice dams. By having your attic insulated properly a minimal amount of heat escapes and air ventilates which minimizes the risk of ice dams forming.

Rake your roof: Next time you go out to shovel your driveway, consider raking your roof. Because a primary cause of ice dams is the snow on your roof melting, removing the snow in the first place can prevent them from forming. We suggest getting a roof rake with wheels so you don’t damage the shingles on your roof.

If Ice Dams continue to plague your winter season contact us at Pro Quality Home Improvements to see how we can use our precise air sealing techniques to eliminate this issue today!