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Guide

The maintenance that actually matters

A roof that gets looked at twice a year lasts appreciably longer than one that gets looked at when it leaks. The work involved is small.

Guide7 sections1 min readCypress, CA

Get it looked at

Three questions, and up to three Cypress contractors. Free either way.

Free · Takes about a minute

Get it looked at

Three questions, and up to three Cypress contractors. Free either way.

Step 1 of 6

What best describes your home?

Different buildings need different crews, so this is the first thing a roofer asks.

No cost to you. Contractors pay us, you do not.

Cut back anything touching the roof

Overhanging limbs cause three problems at once: abrasion, permanent shade that keeps a slope damp, and a highway for rodents into the attic.

Twice a year, from the ground

You do not need to be on the roof to find most problems. A slow lap of the house at a low angle finds nearly all of them.

Look in the attic after heavy weather

The attic shows a leak long before the ceiling does. After any serious storm, take a torch up and look at the underside of the deck around penetrations and valleys.

Deal with growth properly

Moss and algae hold water against the surface. Treat and brush gently, or fit zinc or copper strip near the ridge. Never pressure wash an asphalt roof — it strips the granules and takes years off it in an afternoon.

Keep the penetrations honest

Rubber pipe boots are the single most common source of leaks on an otherwise sound roof, and they are cheap to replace before they fail.

Clear the gutters before the wet season

Gutters full of grit are not just a drainage problem — the grit is your roof, and its presence tells you something about how far along the covering is.

In short

None of this is difficult and none of it is expensive. It is simply the difference between a roof that reaches its rated life and one that does not.

Related questions

What warranty should I expect?

Two separate things. The manufacturer covers the material for its rated life, but only if it was installed to their specification. The contractor covers workmanship, commonly five to ten years, and only for as long as they are trading.

Can I just put a new roof over the old one?

Codes in most places allow two layers. That does not make it wise. You lose the chance to see the deck, and the next roofer has twice as much to remove.

Is this really free?

Yes. You pay nothing, now or later. Roofing contractors pay us for the introduction, which is why the service costs you nothing and why we are upfront that it is how we make money.

Get it priced

It is free, and nothing obliges you to hire anyone.