As the snow melted and springtime showers started, you may have noticed water leaking from your chimney. If this is happening is, your flashing is probably at fault.

The metal strips which shelter connections between the roof and chimney and around vents as well as valleys are called flashing. When the metal becomes corroded, damaged from storms like the ones that hit Minneapolis every year, or isn’t installed correctly in the first place, water gets through and causes damage to underlying structures.

Checking For Leaks
Before the problem can be mended, you first need to identify the cause. In most cases, it’s a good idea to call in a trusted roofing professional to do the inspection for you, since they’ll be able to spot problems you might miss.  As they’re doing the inspection, they should check both inside the home and the entire surface of your roof, including chimneys, skylights and the eaves.

The roof will get examined for things like dry rot, water stains, cracked flashings, damaged bricks in the chimney, broken tiles, dents from hail and general damage from weathering.   They’ll also look at your attic or top floor ceilings and walls for new water stains.

After they’ve finished their investigation, they’ll take their findings and find the source of the leak for you. Then, they’ll make suggestions about how to best fix the problem.

Repair
If the problem is minor enough, you can fix it yourself with brick sealant or spray-on water repellent, both of which are available at most home stores. Your contractor or salespeople at the store can answer any questions you may have about which product is best to use.

If the problem is bad enough, you may need new flashing installed, which is best left to the professionals. Also, if the problem has been going on for a while, there may be wood inside your home which needs to be replaced.  Your roofing inspector can make appropriate recommendations.

Quarve Contracting inspects, repairs, and replaces roofs in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. 

Spring is the best time to survey your roof for damage, because most roofing materials will expand and contract through the cold Minnesota winters. This, along with heavy snow and ice dams, can damage your roof.  According to the American Cleaning Institute, 72% of American households take part in spring cleaning, but few of them remember their roofs.

Replacing your roof is a big investment, but if you catch damage early on, you may be able to get away with less expensive repairs.

What to Look For

The best, and safest, way to survey your roof for damage is to do so from the ground with a set of binoculars.

Asphalt Roofs:  If you have an asphalt roof, look for black areas which indicate cracked or missing shingles. These damaged or missing parts will give water an easy way to get into your home.

Wood Shingles and Shake:  Shingles and shakes that curl upwards, are split, broken or missing must be replaced to fix existing or potential leaks.

Slate:  Watch out for black areas, as they could indicate missing slate. The sooner you get the missing pieces replaced, the less likely it is that you’ll need to deal with repairing water damage in the future.

Valleys:  When looking at the valleys in your roof, check for heavy wear and tear from running water. Since this part of your roof sees concentrated wear, it’s most likely to suffer damage, especially if the flashing wasn’t installed properly.

Chimney and Vent Pipes:  Look for any gaps, fractures, cracking or missing caulk around your chimney and vent pipes.

Overhangs:  Don’t forget to check your overhangs and eves for water damage.

Inside:  Check your ceilings and attic for new signs of water damage, like discolorations in wood or plaster. These indicate potentially hidden leaks.  Any of these signs indicate leaks in your roof which must be repaired sooner rather than later. Timely roof repairs can avert possible structural damage from water leaks, which can lead to an expensive major repair project.

Quarve Contracting has been helping homeowners in the Minneapolis and St. Paul areas protect their homes with quality roofing for three decades. 

Minnesota springs bring beauty and relief, but they can also be rough on your roof. These solutions to common problems can take some of the stress out of the season. 

Snow Melt
If your roof isn’t vented properly, water can freeze in the gutters, encouraging additional snow melt to spill onto the walkways and freeze there. Until you can get a contractor to fix the issue, try these tips.

Put a box fan in your attic and aim it at the spot that gets hot. This normalizes the temperature and reduces the chance of snow melt in cold temperatures.

Run electric heating cables through your gutters. When the weather gets cold and snowy, turn them on to prevent freezing. 

Shingle Roof Needs Replacement
Survey your roof from the ground with a pair of binoculars for shingle damage. Look for multiple tiles that are lifted or curled and for smooth black areas where tiles once were.

To find leaks, head up to your attic on a sunny day, but keep the lights out. Once there, look for pin-pricks of light, which show where water is getting in. Also, look for any new water stains in the wood.

Protecting Storm Damaged Roof
If you were unlucky enough to suffer storm damage to your roof, you’ll need to protect your home until it can be repaired. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Purchase a large woven plastic tarp and several 1X3 wood strips.
2. Roll one end of the tarp around one of the strips at least two times.
3. Screw the wood into the undamaged side of the roof. Make sure it’s snug enough to block any moisture and debris from gathering.
4. Drape the tarp over the ridge of your roof, and make sure it hangs a few feet past the damaged part.
5. Roll the other end around another wood strip and screw it down.
6. Anchor the rest of the strips along the edge of the tarp. These don’t need to be rolled in the plastic.

Spring can be hard on a home, but when you know how to deal with problems as they arise, you can start summer on a high note.

Your roof is the most important protective feature of your home’s exterior – keeping it in top shape and catching minor problems before they turn into major repairs can help you preserve the investment you’ve made in your home.

Everyone knows that if you want to avoid big bills in repair bills, you should regularly maintain your home. Although it often goes overlooked, your roof also needs that attention.  Regularly checking over it and taking some precautionary steps can help you avoid expensive emergency roof repairs after a storm.

Trees:  Although they offer beauty and shade to any property, trees can also harm your roof. When you trim back overgrowth and cut overhanging limbs, you’re saving shingles from damage.

Gutters:  You should clean your gutters at least twice a year. Preventing clogs will help avoid water build up. When dirt and debris are removed, issues will be easier to spot.

Downspout Maintenance:  While you’re checking your gutters, don’t forget your downspouts. They’re likely to get clogged and back up if they’re not cared for properly.

Too Much Snow:  After a big winter storm, clear any built up snow with a roof rake. Because snow is so heavy, it can damage shingles and cause ice dams when the weather slowly gets warmer.

Ventilation:  Making sure your vents are clear will keep moisture buildup and heat to a minimum. This means that rot is less likely to happen, and roof replacement won’t be something you need to do very often.

Insulation:  A well-insulated attic will optimize the roof’s performance as well as save on energy costs.

Storm Damage:  After bad spring storms, especially if there’s hail involved, take a look at your roof. Shingles could have been loosened or removed completely. Check the interior of your home for water stains in case of leaks.

Watch for Green:  Some roofs may be prone to moss and algae growth. If you spot green where there shouldn’t be, look into installing control strips with zinc or lead in them.

Flashings:  One of the weak parts of your roof could be the flashing. Investigate the spots where your roof meets the body of the house, skylights or chimneys for signs of wear, cracks or holes.

If you spot any damage or would like someone with more experience to look at your roof, don’t be afraid to consult an expert. An annual roof inspection is something every homeowner should have on a “to-do” list.  A good roofing contractor will be able to help you determine a course of action and give you more tips about how to properly care for your house.

Now that the weather is starting to warm up, it’s about time to get started on those home maintenance tasks that you put off all winter.  At the top of that list should be a roof and attic inspection.  Many homeowners have their roofs inspected annually, but many neglect to take a good check on the attic area underneath the roof.  This is critical to keeping your roof in good working order, because if you’ve got problems in your attic, it will eventually lead to roof damage.

One thing to watch for is a damp attic ceiling.  Damp ceilings and condensation in your attic space is an indication of improper ventilation.  It’s important for air to be able to move out of your attic space.  When warm, moist air becomes trapped inside, it leads to mold, mildew, and eventually it will cause the roofing boards to rot.  Mold development is a serious matter; not only can it damage your wood structures, it can also cause health problems in some individuals.  And damp air means damp insulation.  Wet insulation is inefficient.

Adequate ventilation in an attic space is crucial, regardless of whether or attic space is finished or not.  In fact, it’s even more important in a finished space because additional problems can develop.

Inadequate attic ventilation in the winter can lead to ice dam development.  During the warmer months it may mean that you’re spending more to cool the house below it than you need to.  And an overly warm attic space can also lead to curled or buckling shingles or other roofing problems.  This means roof repairs or a premature roof replacement.

When you’re having your roof inspected this spring, make sure you have your attic checked (or check it yourself) for moisture.  The fix isn’t difficult; venting installed on the roof and in the soffits should take care of the problem.  But keep in mind that roof vents are not a DIY project – they must be properly flashed, so this is a job best left to a professional roofing contractor.

For kids, the most important thing about winter is how much snow falls from the sky and what they can do with it. However, for adults there’s more to measuring snow than how much fun we can have in it and where it comes up to on the yard stick.

Why is Snow Measurement Important?
Snowfall measurement helps people determine what measures they need to take to clear roads and the amount of melt to expect in the spring.   For instance, when a lot of snow accumulates over the winter, there’s more water for the reservoirs in the spring. There’s lots of water available for splashing around in the summer and keeping your lawn green with regular use of your sprinkler.  However, when there’s not much snow, water restrictions may be put in place, and many businesses can suffer for it if taken unaware. Many of them have someone to monitor snow levels over the winter to prepare for any deficit when spring rolls around.

It’s important for homeowners to pay attention as well. The heavier the snow fall, the more important prompt removal is. If too much weight from the white stuff stays for too long, you may need to replace your roof once damage is exposed after the snow melts away.

Getting True Measurements
Although yard sticks from gardening centers are pretty, they’re not an accurate way to measure the impact of the winter storms. To do that, the water in the snow needs to be measured. This is done by using a specialized snow gauge. Gauges are composed of two parts: a gauge shaped like a funnel, and a copper container which catches the snow.

Once container is filled, it’s removed, and the snow is allowed to melt. When the water is poured out, the amount is measured in millimeters. When there’s more water, you have “wet” snow. When there’s less, you have “dry” snow.

Of course, for most of us, the most we need to worry about when it comes to snow storms is shoveling it and playing in it with the kids.