No matter where we live, there’s really no denying how important it is to keep our roofs maintained. Here in Oklahoma City, though, with the hot sun beating down on the tiles all the time, it’s not hard to see why we have to take some extra precautions. The question is, what should we be doing to keep our shingles safe?
Unfortunately, a lot can go wrong with the roofs of our homes. Studies like this one, https://www.mdpi.com/2225-1154/5/3/72, which look at our area specifically, demonstrate that temperature can have a significant impact on the longevity of architectural structures. There are ways that we can protect ourselves, though, which is what we’re covering today.
Signs of Roof Damage
Before we delve any further into maintaining one, let’s discuss what signs we should be aware of when it comes to our roofs.
After all, while there are many things that we can handle on our own if they break or become damaged in some way, these aren’t one of them. Climbing on top of a home can be quite dangerous and should be left to professionals when possible.
Also Read: 4 Worst Weather That Can Damage Your Roof
Shingle Damage
Perhaps the most “telltale” way to tell if there’s something wrong is if you notice a lot of shingles cracking or falling from the top of your home. Really, anything in that vein probably isn’t a good thing – you may want to bring in a contractor to assess the situation.
Although this may seem like a minimal issue at first glance, the trouble with shingles is that they’re often indicative of a larger problem. That’s why we recommended calling in a roofer when you can. If you do, you may be able to save yourself some time and money down the line.
Water Damage
While Oklahoma may not be renowned for how rainy it is, there’s still potential for water damage to our roofs. Leaks tend to be the biggest issue in this category, and they’re hard to miss most of the time. Keep an eye out after rain in particular and see if there are any leaks inside your home that you can see.
Again, this will be an instance to call in a roofing company that’s nearby in the Oklahoma City area. Chances are, you probably don’t know how to fix the core issue of the leaks, and just putting duct tape on it or hoping for the best isn’t a very good idea.
Sagging
Out of all the signs of needing repair, sagging is the most serious of them. It hints at a potential cave-in, after all, which can be disastrous. For anyone who does see a portion of their roof sagging, whether it’s a big section or a small one, you’ll probably want to get that taken care of as soon as possible. Don’t put it off until the last minute, or you could have a real crisis on your hands.
Maintenance and Repairs
With those details out of the way, we can turn our attention to the matter at hand: maintenance. How does it work? Well, largely, it relies on us being mindful of the state of our roof and shingles and knowing when we should call in external help.
As you can read on this page, The temperatures outside do have an impact on repairs and maintenance procedures. A contractor may suggest getting a specific type of material for your roof over another, for example, because of how the sun beats down on certain types of shingles.
An example of that is metal, which is being used a lot more often these days both on private and public properties.
Annually, it’s not a bad idea to bring in your contractor to do a quick inspection of your roof. This is especially true if you’ve got trees in your yard that have branches anywhere near the home, or if there’s been a particularly windy season. Considering all of the tornado scares lately, that’s not off the table.
What Can a Roofer Do?
The final question we’d like to address today is this one. A lot of us hear about contractors and professional roofers, but there isn’t a whole lot of detail as far as what they do and what they can bring to the table if we hire them. Obviously, one of the biggest things that they handle is maintenance.
You can bring them in on the yearly basis we mentioned above and request an inspection. Then, if there are any issues, they can help with resolving them! This is far from their only purpose, though, so keep that in mind.
Additional services will probably vary depending on which one you choose to work with. Check out a few different ones around here in Oklahoma City before you make your decision. You can even ask your friends or family members if they’ve ever hired a contractor and see who they would recommend.
Some standards, though, include repairs of any size as well as total roof replacements. While these can sometimes end up on the pricier side, it’s for a good cause – you know, keeping our family and our personal belongings safe inside rather than stressing about rain or any other bad weather ruining anything. A few of the roofers in our area can even help you with new construction projects if that is something that you’re involved in!