• Inspect your roof in the late fall and early spring (you may need binoculars). Look for loose shingles, or, if you have a tile or slate roof, look for missing or cracked pieces. On shingle roofs, look for curling, fraying, and tears on edges. Don't forget to check the flashings around chimneys, vents, skylights and other roof penetrations - they should be tight and in good condition. If you see any of these signs of wear, call a professional roofing contractor for a more thorough inspection.
  • Keep gutters and downspouts clean and free of leaves, sticks and other debris.
  • Keep trees trimmed away from the house.
  • STAY OFF THE ROOF! Walking on its surface can do a great deal of damage. And, you could fall! If you must see the roof for yourself, use a firmly braced or tied-off ladder equipped with rubber safety feet. Wear rubber-soled shoes. Stay on the ladder.

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  • SUN- Heat and ultraviolet rays cause roofing materials to deteriorate over time. The deterioration can occur faster on the sides facing west or south.
  • RAIN- When water gets underneath the shingles, shakes or other roofing materials, it can work its way to the deck and cause the roof structure to rot. And, the extra moisture encourages the growth of mildew and rot elsewhere in the house, which can damage walls, ceilings, insulation and even electrical systems.
  • WIND- High winds can lift the edges of shingles (or other roofing materials) and force water - and debris - underneath them. Very high winds can do extensive damage.
  • SNOW, ICE & HAIL- Melting snow often refreezes at the roof's overhang (where the surface is cooler) and blocks drainage into the gutter (an "ice dam"). Water then backs up under the roofing material. Gutters and downspouts can freeze, too, preventing proper drainage. Hail can damage the roof's surface.
  • MOSS & ALGAE- Moss can grow on wood shingles and shakes if they are kept moist by poor sunlight conditions or bad drainage. Once it grows, moss holds even more moisture to the roof's surface, causing rot, and its roots actually work their way into the wood. Algae also grows in damp, shaded areas on wood or asphalt shingle roofs. Besides creating an ugly black-green stain, it can retain moisture, causing rot and deterioration.
  • TREES & LEAVES- Tree branches touching the roof will scratch and gouge the roof materials as they are blown back and forth by the wind. Falling branches from overhanging trees can damage - or even puncture - shingles and other roof materials. Leaves on the roof surface retain moisture and cause rot, and leaves in the gutters block drainage.

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Call a professional, Call Smart Roofing, or e-mail us with your questions. We will be happy to come out to your home and inspect & evaluate your roof. Call today - (773) 992 - 5100 or e-mail us.

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Smart Roofing has developed a Roofing Inspection & Maintenance Program for these types of roof systems. It is available for new or existing structures, and it is designed to prevent premature roof failure and ultimate structural failure.

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In General, roof repairs are first dealt with only after water has once begun to drip into the interior of a structure and has resulted in damages to contents, delays in operations or possible injury to personnel.

Roof systems, unlike other components of a building are susceptible to severe weathering, expansion, contraction and human abuse. It is not uncommon for some leakage to develop within a very short period after the original roof application as a result of these causes, thus requiring continual inspection and maintenance. In addition, exposure to unusual pollutants, strong winds, hail and long continued rains, may result in additional roof system degradation.

Failure to locate and correct these defects in their earliest stages is the greatest cause of premature roof failure and ultimate structural failure.

Roof warranties are not deterrents to common sense practical maintenance. A roof system, like your automobile, requires periodic inspection and maintenance to protect the exterior as well as ensure continued serviceability. Our planned Roof Inspection and Maintenance Program  provides you this assurance.

We look forward to explaining our program to you and making you one of our valued customers.

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Our endeavor is to ensure performance of your existing roof system by offering a maintenance program which ultimately reduces the costs incurred for roof replacement. Our watchful eye will detect such causes that ultimately result in prolonged saturation and subsequent destruction of the roof system and structural components.

It is to this end that Smart Roofing has developed a Roof Inspection & Maintenance Program using qualified personnel who will conduct an inspection of your roof system and surrounding structural components, establishing its present condition, acquiring important information required to evaluate and establish maintenance procedures for your facility.

This program is available for new or existing structures, whether the present roof systems were installed by Smart Roofing or another qualified roofing contractor.

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Our MAINTENANCE program has over a dozen services to ensure top performance of your roof system. Here are just a few:

  • Scheduled periodic inspections of the roof & the structure.
  • Working roof plan prepared-depicting location of vents, drains, skylights, curbs & other penetrations.
  • A progressive analysis of roof conditions.
  • History of completed maintenance that can be used to your advantage in property management.

 

  • Notification of unknown roof alterations which may result in leakage.
  • 24-hour emergency repair services.
  • Roof system maintenance that becomes a tax deductible expense.
  • Advanced warnings of conditions that exist on the roof that could affect heating, cooling & fan equipment, duct work, window & masonry caulked joints, electrical & gas piping, etc.

 

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Under the terms of our individualized agreement, Smart Roofing will perform inspections and maintenance tailored to your needs.

Smart Roofing will inspect the areas of concern listed in pursuit of maintaining the watertight integrity of the roof system.

Any deficiencies observed will be noted and provided to you accompanied with an estimate of costs to correct those items that are not covered in the roof maintenance agreement.

Upon completion of any repair work, all resulting debris and material will be removed, leaving the roof and premises in a professional condition.

Call or e-mail us to establish your plan.
                     (773)  992 - 5100

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