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Maintenance Tips to Help Prevent Roof Leaks

These 5 simple tips will help us locate current or future leaks and show how a maintenance program can help identify potential problems before they cause damage.

If it pops through the roof, we will look at it. Penetrations are the most common leak sources and will stop the natural water flow off a roof.  These include:

  • Chimneys. The top leak source. Does the chimney have a cricket? Is it properly step flashed and counter flashed? Does it need to be sealed?
  • Skylights. Water gets trapped behind them. Is the flashing in good repair? Is the skylight itself leaking?
  • Plumbing vents. Do the vent stacks have neoprene or rubber that has cracked with age? Do they need to be sealed or painted? Have critters chewed on the pipe or flashing?
  • Is the satellite or cable flashed properly?

Living on the edge. A drip edge is not just aesthetically pleasing, it is important to help ensure water is kept away from the fascia and moved off the roof.  A common leak source in the eaves and cause of wood rot is a missing drip edge. Wind-driven rain will enter the gap between the roof deck and fascia board.
A drip edge also helps to keep out insects, critters, and snakes. Make sure to check the drip edge when looking for leaks.

Every step I take. Areas where step flashing should be installed are a common leak source and maintenance item. We inspect these areas for damage:  Dormers, Roof-to-wall transitions, and Wherever low-quality sealant or mastic has been used in the past.

What’s in YOUR attic? Many times, homeowners think the roof is the culprit, but problems can come from improper ventilation, plumbing, air conditioning, condensation, vent fans, and animal or bug infestation in the attic.

Be on the lookout for:

  • Algae stains on interior plywood
  • The “M” word: mold
  • Soaked insulation when it hasn’t rained
  • Black rings or rust around nails, which is the first sign moisture is condensing in attic spaces

Is there a lack of ventilation that is causing the attic to overheat or accumulate moisture?
Are the intake vents clogged with paint, spider webs, dust, or insulation?

Mind in the gutter. Many homeowners do not realize the importance of their gutters. They need to be installed and sloped properly to drain, tightly fastened, and free of debris.

A preventive maintenance plan consisting of periodic inspections, routine maintenance, and minor repairs can help avoid costly problems down the road. A thorough inspection, performed regularly by a SMART Roofing, Inc. professional roofing contractor, can monitor the roof’s condition and help prevent small problems from becoming major roof leaks.

Contact Smart Roofing, Inc. today at 847.747.0404 for all of your residential and commercial roofing needs.

SMART Roofing Featured Chicago Service Areas:

SMART Roofing serves the following Chicago Area: Algonquin, Alsip, Antioch, Arlington Heights, Aurora, Barrington, Barrington Hills, Bartlett, Batavia, Bedford Park, Bensenville, Berkeley, Berwyn, Blue Island, Bridgeview, Broadview, Brookfield, Buffalo Grove, Burbank, Burr Ridge, Calumet City, Calumet Park, Carpentersville, Chicago, Chicago Heights, Cicero, Country Club Hills, Countryside, Crestwood, Crete, Deer Park, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Dundee, Elgin, Elk Grove Village, Elmwood Park, Evanston, Evergreen Park, Flossmoor, Forest Park, Franklin Park, Geneva, Glen Ellyn, Glencoe, Glendale Heights, Glenview, Glenwood, Gurnee, Hampshire, Hanover Park, Harvey, Harwood Heights, Hazel Crest, Hickory Hills, Highland Park, Hinsdale, Hoffman Estates, Homewood, Huntley, Indian Head Park, Inverness, Itasca, Justice, Kenilworth, La Grange, Lake Forest, Lake in the Hills, Lake Villa, Lake Zurich, Lansing, Lemont, Libertyville, Lincolnwood, Lisle, Long Grove, Lyons, Maine Township, Markham, Matteson, Melrose Park, Midlothian, Montgomery, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Naperville, Niles, North Lake, Northbrook, Oak Brook, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Oak Park, Olympia Fields, Orland Hills, Orland Park, Oswego, Palatine, Palos Hills, Palos Park, Palos Township, Park Forest, Park Ridge, River Forest, Riverside, Rolling Meadows, Roselle, Rosemont, Schaumburg, Schiller Park, South Barrington, Streamwood, Sugar Grove, Summit, Tinley Park, Vernon Hills, Westchester, Western Springs, Wheaton, Wheeling, Willow Springs, Wilmette, Winnetka, Wood Dale, Woodridge, Worth, Yorkville, and more.

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