Your house and property are meant to be enjoyed, and as every homeowner knows there’s always some outside work to be done to make that enjoyment possible. Your roof is one place that you should be checking on seasonally to head off expensive repairs.
If you’re getting uncomfortable thinking about having to actually go up on your roof, don’t worry, as just inspecting for any issues can be done sufficiently from the ground or call us for an inspection.
Winters tend to be harshest on your roof, but knowing how to best protect it for the winter will provide you with the maximum life of your investment. While all four seasons call for a visual check, before and after the snow, ice and cold is the most vital time to be checking and performing basic maintenance tasks or calling in a professional to do the job.
This page can help end the confusion of what is best for your roof from season to season and help you confidently take care of the minor work that you may be able to do yourself to keep your roof in its optimum condition from year to year.
We recommend you do a quick roof inspection every three months to be aware of any problems, but you won’t need to spend a lot of time with this preventative maintenance task every time. Once a year, either in the late fall or early spring, you should consider spending a few hours with the tasks to clean up and fix up the top part of your house. This includes inspection of the shingles, flashing, chimney, vent pipes, gutters and eaves.
You may find some shingles that need to be replaced, a damaged chimney cap to be reinstalled or moss growing. By catching the little things soon after they’ve just happened, you’ll save yourself the added expense of avoidable repairs when these minor problems are left to cause deterioration and decay of major sections of your roof.
The lists for each season will touch on some of the issues to look out for, and then more information on how to deal with some of those problems will be provided after the checklist. We’ll start with the most popular time for outdoor maintenance: the fall. The coming cold temperatures and heavy snow and ice call for a special approach to protect your roof for the winter.
You want to get both an overall estimate of the condition of the roof as well as specific lists of existing problems or areas for future concern. A top home inspection tip for buyers is to ask about the roof as it currently is and to get the inspector’s impression for how well it will stand up in the future.
Inspections are a great way to identify damage that you can’t easily see from the ground, and it’ll also let you know about weaknesses that may not have been detected yet. If a roof is wearing down prematurely or is nearing the end of a warranty, you can get a good estimate of your future costs.
Leaks, rot, cracks, gaps, and holes can cause significant damage to your home. A quality inspection will look for these elements not only on the roof but in the attic and all interior spaces. Your inspector will know the danger signs and can often spot attempts to hide damage.
A good inspector with proper certifications and training will know when to look beyond fresh paint to see if there is an issue that wasn’t properly repaired. Attend the inspection and ask about trouble spots if you are concerned.
The home purchase roof inspection should note if there was any recent work, or if parts of the roof seem mismatched, indicating an area of wear or damage. You are within your rights to ask the homeowner or contractor about the repairs.
If the work was done by a reputable contractor and they used high-quality materials, you might be able to have the roof’s existing warranty transferred into your name when you purchase the home.
Some warranties will last for the life expectancy of the roof, usually prorated to 40 or 50 years. Discuss warranties with your agent. Typically, the inspector will not have any idea about the warranty, but they may know the contractor, so ask here, too.
A roof often comes with many different elements unique to the home and installation. These will include things like siding, soffit, fascia, gutters, downspouts and more. Your inspector should be able to see if they’ve been installed properly and if any maintenance is needed.
All of these elements are designed to keep the roof and home healthy. If they’re compromised, water and debris could pile up or leak into the home, generating long-term problems.
Mentioning them can also prompt your inspector to give you a full rundown on the roof. You may hear about cracked boots near vent pipes, rust spots, damage to the chimney cap or discoveries like asphalt grit in the gutters. All inspections will come with a very detailed report with pictures and descriptions of all areas of concern.
These recommendations and suggested areas to check and review are backed up by the National Roofing Contractors Association, which has a mission to protect homeowners.
Proper ventilation is one of the biggest factors determining the durability and lifespan of a good roof, regardless of age.
Poor ventilation can trap heat or moisture in the attic area of your home. As these build up over time they do damage to the internal pieces of your home and your roof. Rafters and sheathing can start to rot, shingles may buckle, insulation becomes less effective and risks to your walls all increase if the ventilation isn’t working properly.
Your roof should be installed in a way to encourage ventilation and minimize the chances of vents from becoming blocked. Inspectors should check for baffle and soffit vents, ridge vents and other systems.
The attic will need a gap-free layer of insulation to protect both the roof and home below, open vents that can allow air to move and pass freely and other structural protections.
It’s always best to contact Summit Roofing and Restoration to understand what your attic needs. Requirements vary greatly across the U.S. based on local weather, sun exposure, humidity, shade and more. There are also specific considerations for each individual home, including the pitch of the roof.
Nothing that’s available on the internet can provide you with a 100% correct assessment or requirement for your individual home, which is why it is important to consult your trusted contractor or home inspector.
A pre-sale roof inspection for the homebuyer is always a great step, as it can help you determine whether the purchase is right for you. You will be happy to hear that you can often choose your own contractor and inspector to get an opinion on the home.
Locating problems during an inspection can be upsetting, but they may not mean you need to drain your savings. If your roof leaks, you may or may not need to have it replaced completely. It all depends on the leak.
Sometimes, a roof may leak as a result of loose flashings or only a small part of the roof system is damaged. In the case of small problem areas, a localized repair can solve many issues. However, if the damage is systemic or mold and mildew are permeating the majority of your roofing materials, then you’re likely looking at a full replacement.
An inspector who determines the damage and its extent can help you understand the potential possibilities for causes. Sometimes this can include improper installation or previous repairs. If that’s the case then you should contact your previous contractor about their warranties and protections to see if you’re still covered.
Unfortunately, in our area not all roofs perform well. If the damage was caused due to poor or improper materials being used, then you might face the full cost of a roof replacement.
We suggest you look no further than Summit Roofing and Restoration for an honest assessment of your property. We offer a range of full exterior home services and know what to look for when it comes to safety and beauty.
We are happy to answer the questions you may have from a home inspection or to discuss possible warning signs. Our team will provide you with a free evaluation and inspection so that there are no surprises along the way. Our no-obligation quotes can even help you judge other bids, which Summit Roofing & Restoration, Inc. will often meet or beat.
Protecting your roof through every season is important, and our team has the preventative roof maintenance services to help make that happen! We’d be happy to provide a free inspection to determine the condition of your roof and provide a no-obligation estimate for necessary repairs. Please call the Summit Roofing & Restoration, Inc. team at (731) 443-2253 or contact us online to learn more. We look forward to giving your roof the high-quality service it deserves!
Contact Summit Roofing & Restoration, Inc. now for a consultation. Don’t forget to ask about our discounts for senior citizens, first responders and military personnel.
I am satisfied that I chose Summit Roofing to replace my roof. Justin was so professional, helpful and his character was SUPERB. He was very thorough with helping me through... ...
Kat Jon
I am posting for my parent’s. My mother said Brandon and Monty were great helping with their needs and wants. They had to deal with insurance for prior roof work... ...
Angela Starnes
I cannot speak highly enough about the men at Summit Roofing, Leslie, Cody and Jonathan took care of my roof, my gutters and some siding damaged in one of the... ...
William Whitten
This company has gotta be the best in the mid south by far. I called Justin from Summit Roofing and Restoration after being ignored by the other companies because of... ...
Nicholas Brian
Awesome company. There work is great. They will walk you through the process step by step. They are a family owned company and it shows. They will treat you like... ...
Les For
I had my roof replaced mid summer, I have had zero problems and the roof is beautiful. They sit down with me and covered the different types off roofs, their... ...
Justin Helton
I had my roof replaced under my insurance Monty took care of my insurance process with no stress to me. Tanzer made sure I chose the best roof for my... ...
Candi Fuqua
I would recommend Summit Roofing and Restoration to do your roofing. They came out and had a new roof on my home in one day. They are friendly and answered... ...
Lori Phillips
I bought an architectural roof from them. It looks phenomenal and the office staff was very knowledgeable and well spoken. Thank you summit ...
Brandon Tapley
I had a leak developed over my garage, after calling the original roofer and one other to come check it out and give me a price of fixing the leak,... ...
Michael Brooks
Summit did a great job on our roof! I am very particular when it comes to how things are done and they definitely impressed me. A lot of companies leave a mess for the home owner to clean up, but they ...
Natalie Rook
Randall made sure to answer all of our very MANY questions, stayed in contact with us throughout the entire process, he explained everything to us perfectly , walked us through exactly what we should ...
Marley Rose
We could not be happier with the job that Summit did on our new roof! The roof looks great but they also did an incredible job with clean-up! They came back to check for nails in the yard and driveway ...
Pearson Crutcher
We purchased a new roof and gutter system from Summit and they were exceptional throughout the entire process from consultation to installation. Communication from Josh has been great and he helped us ...
Marc Upchurch
We are so thankful for Summit Roofing & Restoration. They did an excellent job repairing my roof. The Amazing Kenny Taylor and crew were very professional throughout the whole process. Kenny was very ...
Bruce Shanks
Had 2 roofs replaced,Bentley was very professional,sweet,caring,and really went out of his way to help us. Everyone at Summit,that we had contact with,were exceptional. Thank you Bentley,Hunter,and Ev ...
Angela Rose
Mike is amazing! We recently bought a house with an 18 year old roof. He came out and inspected the roof when I reached out to ask how many years approx we had left with the current roof. Fast forward ...
3699 Properties
I used Summit Roofing & Restoration and recieved a new roof. They came out, contacted my insurance company, did the inspection with the adjuster, and handled all the paperwork. I have referred them to ...
Mike Jones
Great people that helped me out when I had a limb come through my roof. Randall was one of the best humans I have meet. He sat down and explained everything to me so I could understand what was being ...
Cheryl R Campbell
Colton Ellis was very professional, courteous, knowledgeable, communicative, timely, and just awesome all the way around. We would definitely recommend him to anyone. Thank you! ...
Keli Smith
Great service. Professional staff. Colten Ellis was very knowledgeable about what was needed and explained all that was to be done to replace roof also kept me informed on the progress. The roofing te ...
Sherry Burdyshaw
Very easy to work with, quality work, scheduling success, fair price, and friendly team. I recommend! ...
Mark Wheeler
The amazing Kenny showed up to my house an hour after I first called about looking to hire them to do my roof. He came and did a thorough inspection and said that he can fix my interior ceiling damage ...
Kaylee Wilson
Summit roofing repaired and installed new shingles after I was hit with an E3F tornado. Very High quality work. Justin Milburn did a first class repair. I would highly recommend them for a new roof or ...
Lou Dadamo
Summit Roofing & Restoration did a great job replacing my roof. David Williams was helpful and he explained the process. He stayed in touch during the process, also I could call if I had any questions ...
Tina Jetton
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