Raising the Roof!

• By ROXANNE C. HARE
• Special Sections Editor
• Published: Mar 6, 2008

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Roof care is one of those things homeowners rarely like to think about. But knowing the ins and outs of repair, maintenance and replacement can save a lot of heartache.

“A roof is one of the biggest investments on your house that you’re going to have to deal with at some point,” said Brian Wedding, owner of Jasper Construction.

Maintenance
If you already have wear on your roof, the  main concern is how to get the longest and best use out of it as possible. That starts with keeping it free of leaves, branches and other debris, Wedding said.

“It’s something you need to do, with all the pine trees and everything,” Wedding said, adding, “Keeping the gutters clean is also important because water will back up and go under the shingles.”

Older roofs that are discolored can be the source of a roof maintenance faux pas, Wedding said. Some homeowners who have roofs discolored by algae resort to having them professionally cleaned.

“It’s going to take some time off of your roof. What they do is use high pressure and use chemicals,” Wedding said. “On the flip side, it does look better.”

Wedding said there are new shingles on the market with zinc that prohibit algae growth.

Repairs
As for repairs, each situation is different, depending on the age of the roof and the severity of the damage. Do-it-yourselfers can generally handle smaller repairs on newer roofs. But Wedding warned that some jobs should be left to the professionals.

“Roofing isn’t rocket science. If a person has any kind of mechanical knowledge, they can replace a shingle,” Wedding said. “The problem is if your roof is over 10 years old, it loses elasticity where you can’t move the shingle above it to get the new one under there. What happens is you’ve patched it but damaged the one above it, and it starts a domino effect.”

A rule of thumb is if your roof is 10 years old and you need a repair, call a professional.

At some point, though, it’s time to bite the bullet and have your roof replaced. Wedding said homeowners can do a visual inspection, taking note of curled or missing shingles, or they can call a professional.

Roofs generally have a life span of about 15 to 20 years, or even less in Louisiana.

“At 15, you should probably get it looked at,” Wedding said. “The elements are just too hard here.”