Spring is finally here in Maryland, and it’s more important that you regularly check your roof for signs of damage now that the weather has started to warm up. Here are the five most common spring roofing issues you may experience:
1. Loose or Broken Eaves
Causes: Autumn leaves left untouched can pile up on the eaves of your home; slow deterioration of these leaves can lead to clogging and overflow.
Solutions: Regularly clear your eaves of any debris that is present there. Check the screws and brackets to ensure they are fastened properly.
2. Animal Lodging
Causes: Loose flashings or siding, corroded facia boards, and dormant chimneys are all places critters will seek shelter when the weather starts to warm up.
Solutions: If you have noticed odd noises or an abnormal amount of wildlife congregating around your home, you may have a nesting issue. If you are certain that animal nesting is on your roof, you should contact an animal removal service to remove them. After that, you should have a certified roofing company come and inspect your roof and siding for signs of damage.
3. Chimney Deterioration
Causes: Older homes need to have the chimney inspected. A common winter problem is that ice and snow rest on the top of your chimney. If the chimney is old, it will likely have cracks in the crown. The water runs into those cracks when the snow melts during the day. Temperature drops at night can cause expansion and push the mortar and bricks apart. If this keeps recurring, it can cause your roof to leak and cause your chimney to fall off your house.
Solutions: Have your chimney inspected regularly. If deterioration signs are present, we strongly recommend hiring a roofing or chimney specialist who is qualified in this area.
4. Active Leaks
Causes: One thing that you’re going to want to look for is if there are any leaks or water damage inside the building. During the winter, snow and often ice stay put and may not melt or become a problem. When spring rolls around, all of the snow and ice begin to melt, which can cause a leak in your building’s roof system.
Solutions: If you notice that the ceiling or walls have stains, it is a sign that the roof system probably needs to be repaired as soon as possible. Call our experts to have a professional inspection of your roof completed.
5. Membrane Separation
Causes: A sign to look for when it comes to flat rubber (or other membranes) roof systems on commercial buildings is if you notice the roof membrane slowly tearing or peeling away. This can cause serious issues because nothing is protecting the building below.
Solutions: This is why a qualified roof inspection is the best way to see if any damage is done to the roof that would warrant immediate repairs or other non-critical issues with the roof membrane.
