Roofs, gutters, flashings and chimneys.

Chimney

Cleaning your chimney is of utmost importance as creosote, which results from the process of burning wood, can build up in your stack and cause a fire in the chimney. Also check flue tiles for cracks or missing mortar. Look for crumbling mortar between bricks and at the cap, loose or missing bricks, or flashing that has corroded or pulled away from the chimney. All these can cause a chimney to leak. Install a wire spark arrester to keep embers and sparks off the roof and to keep small creatures out of the chimney.

Flashing.

Leaks in valleys are sometimes the result of a break in the metal flashing itself. Most likely though, a leak is the result of too much water for the valley. Inspect your valley flashing often and remove any debris that can cause the water to dam up and overflow the edges. Make sure the valley is free from any obstruction such as a loose roofing shingle.

Repairing cracked valley flashing: Avoiding valley leaks:

Roofs and Gutters

Inspect your roof often to evaluate the condition of the roof structure, surface material, flashings, eaves and gutters. Pay attention to the vulnerable areas of your roof, as they are prone to leaking when it rains.

Asphalt shingles : (felt base: durability 12 –20 years, fibreglass base: durability 15 – 25 years)
Low maintenance, economical.
Repair asphalt shingles on a warm day when they are more pliable; cold shingles are brittle and can break easily

Wood shingles or shakes : (durability 5 –25 years)
Most wood shingles are cedar however some are redwood. Durable but treated wood is expensive.

Concrete and clay tiles : (durability 50+ years)
This type of roofing is rare and like slate, these roofs are heavy. Extremely durable but difficult to install. Cracks easily when walked on.

Slate shingles : Slate shingles are heavy but the biggest problem with slate roofs is the nails holding the slates in place. These tend to rust over time and allow the slates to slip out of position. Once a slate slips, it allows more water penetration, which accelerates the rusting of nails holding other slates.

Roll roofing : (asphalt: durability 5- 15 years, felt coated with asphalt: durability 10 – 20 years).
Most waterproof of all roofing materials. Difficult to locate leaks. The black surface absorbs heat.


Aluminum and galvanized steel : (panels: durability 20+ years. Shingles: durability 50+ years).
Shingles are lightweight but can be damaged by heavy hail and falling branches.
Panels are lightweight and durable requiring minimal maintenance. Contraction and expansion of metal can cause leaks at nail holes.
Metal roofs should never be covered with tar as moisture trapped below the tar causes accelerated rusting. This type of roof is difficult to repair. Replacement is the best alternative.

 

A roof sheds water but it is the gutter and downspout system that carries the water away from the house. Water that is allowed to flow from downspouts directly into the ground may end up in your crawl space or basement and can erode the soil alongside the house, causing settling of the structure.

 

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