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Guide

What to do, and when

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.

Or call (323) 655-6954
Guide7 sections1 min readBell, CA

Get it looked at

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

Or call (323) 655-6954

Free estimate · No obligation

Get it looked at

Three questions, and up to three Bell 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.

Free. You are not committing to anything.

Keep the penetrations honest

Pipe boots crack, sealant shrinks, and satellite mounts get screwed straight through the covering. Every penetration is a hole somebody decided to make watertight, and each is worth a look.

Look in the attic after heavy weather

Check after the first real weather of the season rather than at the end of it. A small stain found in autumn is a cheap repair; the same stain found in spring is not.

Deal with growth properly

Cleaning a roof aggressively does more damage than the growth was doing. Gentle treatment, patience, and a strip at the ridge to stop it returning.

Cut back anything touching the roof

Branches abrade the surface in wind and drop debris that holds moisture. Keep growth well clear of the covering, and clear of the gutters while you are at it.

Clear the gutters before the wet season

Blocked gutters back water up under the bottom course of shingles and rot the fascia behind them. This is the highest-value hour of maintenance there is, and here it wants doing before November through March.

Twice a year, from the ground

Walk the perimeter with binoculars if you have them. You are looking for missing or lifted material, dark patches, sagging lines, and anything growing where it should not be. Ten minutes, twice a year.

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 should I do to prepare?

Clear the driveway, protect attic storage from falling dust, and plan for two loud days. Agree in advance where the dumpster goes and who sweeps for nails.

Are the contractors licensed and insured?

We require a licence number and current insurance from every contractor in the network. Verify it yourself anyway. Your state licensing board has a free lookup, and it takes two minutes.

Should I repair or replace?

It depends almost entirely on how much life is left in the material. Ask any contractor who inspects it to give you a number of years and a reason. If two of them independently say the same thing, believe it.

Start with a free estimate

No cost, no obligation, and never more than three contractors.

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