An Overview of Residential Roofing

An Overview of Residential Roofing
Residential roofing might sound like a boring topic. Except for contractors or specialists, who would want to talk about this? Home owners should. One of the most important elements of a home is the roof. So it's necessary for homeowners to be up to date on this subject at least when it comes to their own home.
Location, location, location is often discussed as the #1 rule in real estate, it's just as important when it comes to residential roofing. Needs for roofs vary by region and include such considerations as ability to withstand tree limbs, wind resistance, fire resistance, ability to withstand or to allow snow to slide off, and even color when it comes to a good looking roof for the area. Residential roofing needs are quite different in a northern, cold and snowy region than they would be in a southern hot and dry region. For those who purchase homes it's important to be familiar with the features and maintenance needs. For home builders, especially if they serve as their own general contractor, selecting the right roof for the region is essential.
Since purchasing pre-built homes is more common, let's examine some of the maintenance issues that are important to ensuring the best performance and longest life from the roofing system. First amongst these issues is timing. Proper maintenance should begin as soon as the system is finished. This will ensure a long term savings. Immediate maintenance includes inspecting the work and checking the contractor's license, insurance, and whether all elements of the system were installed to manufacturer's specifications and to local government guidelines.
After six months to a year the roof should be inspected for debris such as sticks, leaves, and even garbage such as aluminum cans, and those debris removed. This should be repeated at least yearly. Also further ensure proper drainage by cleaning gutters at least once a year. If the residential roof can't drain, it will develop leaks. Leaks cause a great deal of damage, including the possibility of mold that can completely destroy a home.
After only a few years the material at the bottom of vent and other roof protrusions, called pipe boot, may need to be replaced. This is particularly true in states like Oklahoma that don't require pipe jacks to be made out of long lasting lead.
Many roofers convince home owners that the entire roof needs replacing even when there's only a tiny leak. That's nonsense. And the best way to avoid the scam is to have it inspected twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. An easy way to remember to have the residential roofing inspected is to do it when the clocks spring forward and fall back.
Chokyi Ooi runs a Home Improvement and Family Resources site and hopes this site can help us to improve our home and family lives. To learn more about Residential Roofing and lots of other guides, feel free to drop by http://home-and-family.chokyi.com/.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chokyi_Ooi