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How often should I have my roof inspected?

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You stay on top of regular maintenance for your health and even your car – but what about keeping that literal roof over your head in top shape? Everyday the elements slowly put wear and tear on your roof. The sun, rain, and hail all affect your roof’s lifespan and your roof is the number one defense for your valued property. Research has shown that roofs that are not regularly maintained only last half of their expected service life.

Sure, Spring cleaning has you sweeping behind the fridge and winter prep might have you checking to see if the water pipes are in good shape, but when’s the last time you had the roof inspected? Roof maintenance can be as simple as you want to make it. You can do yourself (if only with a pair of binoculars), but this should be complemented with an expert inspection at routine intervals.

So, how often should you have my roof inspected? We recommend getting your roof professionally inspected annually, preferably in the spring or fall before the extreme weather of summer and winter go into full affect. Otherwise, it’s recommended to have a new roof professionally inspected after the 5th year, then at 10 years, and every year after that.

Experts recommend that your roof should be checked during fall and during spring to help spot any potential problems. The roof should be inspected before the season with most severe weather conditions and once after the season is over. This is why fall and spring are the best choices. In summer also the high UV radiation and the high heat compromises your roof, and the cold winter weather also contributes to your roof’s lifespan.

Also, when there is a major storm, we recommend that you get your roof inspected. Accompanied by high winds, falling debris, and hail, it does not matter how new your roof is, a major storm can cause damage to your roof. Hail can also badly damage the roof leading it to need replacement.

As easy as it may sound, inspecting your roof by yourself is not always the best option. You might end up overlooking some warning signs that could be disastrous in the future. It is advisable to seek the services of a professional since it is safer and they will spot signs that you could have overlooked.

When looking at a roof yourself, keep an eye out for:

  1. Uneven surfaces in the decking and cracked caulking

  2. Are any of the shingles curling, buckling or blistering? Are there even some missing shingles?

  3. Look at the rubber part of the pipe vents and see if they look worn down or split open.

  4. Wear or any loose materials round penetrations such as the chimney

  5. Shingle granules in excessive amounts in the gutters

  6. Soft spots on your roof that are an indication of damaged plywood that should be replaced

Debris that has been building up throughout the year can then be removed in the spring, right in time for your annual spring cleaning activities. You can do this yourself, but we recommend hiring a professional, especially with a steeper roofline. Cleaning your roof will take a few hours to sweep, which can be a back-breaking task for a larger home.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Roof replacement can be extremely expensive, and it’s always better to keep up with maintenance rather than waiting for the worst to happen. If you need a roof replacement or any residential roofing or commercial roofing services, contact us at ARS Roofing today.

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