Every year, around 5 million existing homes are sold in the United States.
Are you someone who’s recently purchased a house?
Then you’ll want to know how to take the right measures to ensure your home is not only safe but also robust when it comes to weathering.
One important part that many homeowners skip over is their roof. But if you don’t take care of it, your roof can end up being your financial downfall.
As an Annapolis homeowner, here are some roofing basics you should know.
How Your Roof Works
A roof is generally comprised of 5 parts — the structure, sheathing, covering, flashing, and drainage.
We explain each one in detail below.
Structure
You can think of the structure as the skeleton of your roof.
They’re made of rafters and trusses, which work together to support the roof’s sheathing.
Find out more about sheathing below.
Sheathing
These are the parts that are attached to your house’s rafters.
They’re made of either boards or sheet material.
The sheathing provides a smooth surface for the covering to go on.
Covering
The covering is what goes on top of the sheathing.
Typically, you’d choose either metal, shingles, slate, or tiles. The roof covering protects your sheathing from weathering, such as hail and big gusts of wind.
Flashing
Your roof is what stands between the outside elements and your home’s interior.
The flashing is what prevents water from seeping into your house.
It’s usually made of sheet metal, but it can also be made from other material, so long as it fits into your roof’s joints and valleys.
Drainage
This is also another feature of your roof that keeps water away from the inside of your home.
But it’s not just one thing — instead, it consists of multiple design features.
For example, your home’s drainage system may incorporate the roof’s slope, shape, and layout. Altogether, they work to efficiently transport water away from your home so your roof doesn’t leak.
Now that you know the parts of your roof, here’s some advice on how you can take better care of it.
Have It Inspected
If possible, have the roof inspected before you even close on your home.
If this isn’t feasible, then at least schedule an inspection at your earliest convenience once the deal is sealed.
While your roof might look fine, it may actually be hiding a lot of problems. You won’t be able to tell unless a professional takes a look at it. The earlier they find small problems, the easier, quicker, and cheaper it is to fix them.
Don’t just get one roof inspection, either.
The best course of action is to schedule one every year. Just as you schedule an annual checkup for your health, you should do the same for your roof.
Again, prevention is key — if a roofer gives your home a yearly inspection, minor problems can be caught and remedied before they grow into something inconvenient and unruly.
If you do this, it’ll be an investment into the lifespan of your roof.
Don’t Forget About Your Gutters
Remember how we said your roof has a drainage system?
Well, it won’t work efficiently all on its own.
As we said above, leaves, branches, and other debris will build up over time. It’ll slide down from your shingles onto your gutter system. As a result, it may become clogged.
If this happens, future rainwater can overfill and pool near your foundation, which can damage it. And because the pooled water makes the debris heavier, it can also cause your gutter system to break.
If you aren’t able to clean out your gutter on your own, have the roofing professional do it during your yearly inspections.
Get a Replacement When You Need One
Even if the roof is brand new when you move in, there comes a time when it eventually breaks down.
This is true even with yearly inspections and repairs.
On average, a roof will last about 20 to 25 years; this number varies depending on the type of roof you have.
If you’re coming up on the two-decade mark, then you should know it’s probably time to replace your roof.
If you’ve been keeping up with your yearly inspections, then your roofer should’ve let you know if your roof’s coming up on its expiration date. If they do, don’t ignore their advice — they’re not just saying this to make an extra buck.
Know the Roofing Basics to Save Yourself Time and Money
When you know the roofing basics, this can save you lots of time, money, and trouble in the future.
If you ever notice anything that’s strange or out of place on your roof, make sure you call some experts straight away.
The longer you leave it, the more of a hassle it’ll be to fix. So make sure you take immediate action if you think something’s up with your roof!
Does your roof need repair or maintenance? Then get in touch with us today to schedule an appointment!