Please click here for a printable version of this section.The free Acrobat Reader is required to view this document. |
The roof on your home will give you years of good service if it is maintained properly. Flashings seal places where the roof abuts walls, chimneys or valleys and where 2 roof slopes meet. Plumbing roof vents are made of plastic pipes, which expand and contract, with temperature changes. In doing so, the seal at the roof jack (metal flashing where the vent pipes go through the roof) may be broken. This will require resealing periodically to prevent leaking. Shakes and shingles are meant to shed water down their overlapping courses into gutters or off the roof overhang. Erratic weather conditions can result in a build-up of water that could cause ice dams to form on the roof or in the gutters and downspouts. This standing water may back up under the shakes or eventually seep through the shakes, causing leaks. Leaks are most likely to occur where the roof joins the roof jacks or vent pipes. These areas are protected by metal flashing that prevents water from leaking into the house. Flashing should be inspected for signs of rust at least once a year. If rust appears, remove it with a wire brush. Then paint the surface with a metal primer coat and suitable top coat. If inspection shows the flashing to be cracked at the edges, repair the crack with flashing cement or similar compound from your local hardware store. Repairs should be completed as soon as the roofing material has dried. Gutters are designed to draw rainwater from the roof through downspouts to the ground away from the house. They need to be cleaned yearly of leaves and debris and kept in good repair. Commercial sealers are readily available to seal corners and joints. Keep roof and valleys free of debris. Left for extended periods of time, debris can result in possible discoloration and deterioration, which is not covered by your Limited Warranty. If you must walk on your roof for any reason, be careful not to damage the surface or the flashings. Do not attempt to walk on the roof of your home when shakes and shingles are wet; they are extremely slippery. Serious injury can result from climbing onto the roof. It is easy to slip off and fall to the ground. We recommend allowing only an experienced roofer on your roof. |