It is the hurricane season once again. The month of June signals the arrival of frequent thunderstorms, strong winds and heavy rain.
One of the most important things that should be done before the hurricane season begins is have a roof company Houston make sure the roof is prepared for any storms that may come.
The roof is the part of the house most susceptible to damage during a storm. Therefore, it is extremely important that the roof be thoroughly inspected before hurricane season begins so that it is ready to handle any severe weather. The best way to determine if a roof needs repair or replacement is to have a professional roof company in Houston inspect it.
There are four types of roofing material that is most commonly used by a roof company Houston. These materials are: shingles, tiles, flat roof composition, and metal. Each of these materials has a different lifespan and different ways to determine replacement timing.
- Flat Roofing Material – One of the most common roofing designs is the flat roof. This type of roof is an advantageous design because the entire room space below can be fully utilized. One disadvantage is that flat roofs are more susceptible to early failure, especially with certain types of roofing material. Tar and gravel used to be very common materials used on flat roofs. It unfortunately left the roof very susceptible to wind and storm damage as well as any human traffic across it. The modern material of choice used in building a flat roof is a continuous synthetic membrane-like material, such as PVC or synthetic rubber. That too, although stronger, can still show signs of deterioration such as cracking and fading. These roofs only have a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years depending upon yearly weather exposure.
- Shingles – Shingle roofs are undoubtedly the most common type of roofing material used today. Shingles have an effective insulation capacity and a good life expectancy of 20 to 30 years. Like most roofing materials, shingles can turn brittle as they age making them less resistant to any wet weather whether hot or cold. Curling is also another common problem with shingles, making them susceptible to damage from strong winds. Before the hurricane season hits, have a roof company Houston inspect the shingles for signs of deterioration such as brittleness and curling to determine if any repairs or replacement need to occur.
- Tile – Tiles that are made from clay and slate are both decorative and durable; however, when they are improperly installed, strong wind can easily rip them off and create a cascading effect in which one broken tile shatters another tile, which in turn shatters even more tiles. To prevent this from happening, inspect the tiles before storm season begins. Replace broken and missing tiles that could cause any of them to lift off the roof and damage the surrounding tiles.
- Metal– Among all roofing materials, metal roofs offer the best protection during the hurricane season. A well installed and thick-gauge metal roof can last up to 50 years before needing to be replaced. The only thing that homeowners should inspect on a metal room is rusty or loose screws and flaking paint. Paint flaking can cause rust to develop on the metal roof and accelerate degradation.
Inspecting a roof for damage is as simple as taking a walk around the building. If the height of the roof does not permit an easy roof inspection, leave the job to a professional roof company Houston. A professional roofing contractor can climb up and closely inspect the roof and determine whether it requires any repair or replacement work. Schedule that inspection prior to the arrival of the hurricane season and know that the covering over the top of your house is safe and secure!