Every year, New Englanders look forward to June and the beginning of summer with sun-soaked days, more daylight, and warm summer breezes. But with all the wonderful things Summer brings we also get the official start of hurricane season on June 1st, bringing gale-force winds and the potential for very heavy rains. And it’s your roof that plays the most critical role in protecting your home from all that Mother Nature can throw at us.
Is your Roof Ready to Take on Mother Nature?
To ensure your home and family are protected, you need to make sure your roof is ready to take on all the nasty weather hurricane season dishes out. RIHI is here to help with a short checklist to help you evaluate the health of your roof. Of course, calling a professional roofing expert will certainly give the most peace of mind but you can start the process yourself. Here is a five-point checklist to get you started:
- There first thing to know is to find out the age of your current roof. Typically, the life of an asphalt roof is about 15-20 years depending on the environmental/weather conditions in the region. In New England, although we don’t have long, sustained weather extremes, we do get our share of damaging storms and hurricanes which can impact the life of your roof.
- Inside your home look to see if there are any sort of water rings or signs of leaks along your walls or on your ceiling.
- If you can access your attic, look at the ceiling to also check for water stains or any signs of mold. While you’re in the attic, you can also check to see if there are any sort of gaps or damage where light is coming through your roof.
- Now step outside and walk the perimeter of your home to see if there are any shingles that are missing, damaged, or curling up. These are sure signs that your roof will not perform at its best when it faces heavy wind and rain.
- Look for any growth of moss on your roof as it acts like a sponge and absorbs water. If this trapped moisture travels underneath the shingles it could cause rot in the wooden components of the roof, threatening structural integrity and leading to costly repairs.
As we said earlier, hiring a pro like RIHI will give you the highest level of confidence in the assessment of your roof, but this simple checklist can get you started down the path of piece-of-mind. And if you do have any questions, call us at 800-374-4492 and a RIHI Team Member would be happy to help.
