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Roof and Gutter
You need to inspect your roof and gutters for any
problems. Start from the ground first and check out the gutters. You should
be looking for gaps between the gutters and the house and loose gutter spikes.
Loose gutter spikes sometimes cause these gaps and can allow water to run
through the gap and freeze, causing further damage. Sometimes you can simply
bang these back in and they'll stay but other times you may need to drive in a
new gutter spike. Here's
how.
The next step is to get up on the roof. First a
Safety note: FALLING OFF THE ROOF CAN KILL OR INJURE
YOU. Be careful on the roof and use a safety harness with an
appropriate connection to a chimney or something. The OSHA web page has some suggestions for
appropriate equipment. If you are uncomfortable working on the roof, find a
contractor. If you are not, read on. Get on the roof using an appropriate
ladder or through a window. Setup your safety equipment and check the flashing
around the chimney and where walls meet. If the sealant around the chimney is
damaged, you need to reseal the flashing. There is a special sealant you need
to use, so ask the salesman or go to the DAP or
GE web page. Also check the caulking around
windows or siding. This stuff usually lasts forever but sometimes needs
maintenance.
The next thing to check is the roof itself. Make
sure that no shingles are missing or damaged. Damaged shingles should be
replaced and is fairly easy to
do. If you're not sure what you're looking at, find a
contractor.
The final item on the roof are the gutters. If you
noticed and gaps or loose gutter spikes from the ground, now is the time to fix
them. Be careful while trying to fix gutters as they are right next to the
edge. Drive any loose gutter spikes in. If they won't hold you'll need to replace them. Also
make sure that the gutters are clean. If you noticed any drip lines from the
ground, you'll need to re-seal the joints between the pieces of gutter. You may
need to install new
rivets.
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