DIY Gutter Repair Tips

If you follow our blog, you know that we are huge advocates for proper maintenance and preventative measures when it comes to protecting your biggest investment - your home and its roof. Your gutter system is a huge part of a properly functioning roof, and it should be inspected and maintained much like your roofing system. Gutter problems can lead to poor drainage, costly interior leaks and foundation breakdown.

DIY Gutter Repair Tips

Let’s take a look at a couple of most common problems you may find as you’re inspecting and maintaining your gutters. 

#1. The Problem: Sagging Gutters. Over time, the fasteners and brackets holding your gutters against the roof perimeter may begin to pull away—or even break off—so gutters begin to sag. In addition to being an eyesore, this sagging allows debris and sludge to build up in the center of lengthy gutter sections. Sagging gutters don’t drain as well, and sludge causes gutter deterioration over time.

The Repair: Reseating or Replacing Hangers. If your gutters are held in place by spike-and-ferrule hangers, try caulking around the spike and allowing caulking to cure. Then, drive the long spike deeper into the roof’s edge. If the spike does not “grab” solid wood when you drive it, change out the spike for a larger nail or a longer wood screw. For clip-style gutter hangers, you must pull up the edge of the roof and reattach hangers to the underlay, or “sheathing.” Be gentle with the roofing material, or you may crack shingles and cause additional roof damage.

#2. The Problem: Popped Rivets. If your home is protected by aluminum gutters, they’re probably attached to one another by rivets or small screws and further secured with roofing sealant or silicone caulking. As gutters shift and warp due to water weight, wind and age, rivets and screws may pop loose. Caulking also dries out over time, losing its ability to support gutter joints.

The Solution: Reinstalling Rivets. After climbing safely up to the roof’s edge, grasp the two loose gutter sections and place them together. Using a lightweight electric drill, make a small hole through each side of the gutter or downspout. Set pop rivets in each drilled hole, and use a pop rivet tool (available at most hardware stores) to secure the rivet into place. Apply a thin layer of roofing cement or exterior silicone caulking around the edge of the repaired gutter, and allow it to cure for 24 hours before testing the integrity of the connection. You may need to reapply a second layer of roof caulking to ensure a tight seal.

If you ever feel unsure or unsafe about performing any of these DIY fixes for your damaged gutters, don't hesitate to contact Trudel and Sons Roofing at (905)642-3515 and we'll be more than happy to send a pro your way to fix the problem!

The Importance of a Roof Inspection

Roof Inspection: Why is it Necessary? - Trudel Roofing

Since your roof offers a line of defense for your home’s structure, it should be inspected regularly. Roof inspections, which should be offered by your local roofing contractor, are especially important if you live in location that tends to experience weather extremes, or after a particularly harsh season.

Spring inspections are critical because your roof can take quite a beating every winter, and addressing small problems now will surely extend the life of your roof and save you money you would have otherwise have to spend replacing your roofing structure.

What Causes My Roof to Deteriorate?

Your roof has many natural attackers, including:

Sun: Heat and UV rays can be destructive to roofing materials, causing them to break down over time.

Wind: High winds can pull shingles away from the roof’s underlayment, allowing dirt and water to collect between the layers. Over time, this debris and moisture can lead to structural deterioration.

Rain and Snow: Frequent moisture penetration can be detrimental to your roof’s structure, causing mildew, wood rot and even damage to insulation and electrical infrastructure. Ice dams can be especially damaging to the integrity of your roofing structure.

Lichen: Wood shakes and shingles make good homes for moss and algae. These organic materials discolour your roof and hold in excess water—which leads to wood rot and structural damage over time. In addition, fungus builds up in gutter systems, making it difficult to maintain proper drainage flow.

Trees: If your yard’s landscaping becomes overgrown, tree limbs and leaf buildup may become a problem. Long, heavy branches can puncture or scratch your roof, and leaves may block downspout systems.

When Should I Have My Roof Inspected?

According to the National Roofing Contractors Association, your home’s roof should be inspected twice a year—once during fall months, and again in the late spring – to ensure optimal performance and lifespan.

Since your roof is the most weather-exposed part of your home, a thorough inspection should include an interior and exterior evaluation of the roof’s structure. Regular roof inspections include a look at interior walls, ceilings and fireplace flues, assessment of leaks or visible damage, evaluation of downspout/gutter systems and examination of roofing materials (shingles, shakes, tiles, etc.).

After inspecting your home from the inside and out, a qualified roofer can make recommendations about maintenance or replacement measures.

Schedule Your Trudel Roof Inspection Today!

If it’s been awhile since you had a roofing professional look over your home’s roof and gutter systems, contact Trudel and Sons Roofing for a comprehensive roof inspection. With 35+ years of experience, our roofing crews are highly skilled and factory trained. 

Whether your roof needs an inspection, a little patchwork or an overhaul, our insured and licensed professionals are trained to get the job done right—and our work is always guaranteed!

Call (905)642-3515 for your comprehensive inspection and estimate today!

Asphalt Roofing Systems: Freedom of Selection or Overkill?

There are many different options from a variety of manufacturers when deciding which asphaltic roofing material to use for a building. But is having so many choices necessary, and could it cause more harm than good?

Asphaltic roofing has been around for more than 150 years and has many advantages in the commercial market, including long life, multi-ply redundancy, and outstanding puncture resistance. However, the market share has decreased as a result of competition from less expensive single-ply membranes, and now the sheer quantity of offerings—which are estimated between 800-1,000 asphalt roof systems per manufacturer—doesn’t make sense in this smaller market. In contrast, TPO, which is larger than the asphaltic business, has about 75 percent fewer systems.

We understand the competitive pressure out in the marketplace and it’s nice to give customers a choice, but there are risks involved. It could cause confusion as professionals scramble to understand so many roofing systems, complicate the sales process, and drive up the cost for distributors, manufacturers, and, ultimately, customers.

Instead of focusing on how many different ways we can arrive at the same result, we should focus on what is the most cost-effective way (from an installed cost standpoint) to arrive at the desired result. For example, if a customer is looking for a 20-year hot mopped system over insulation, there are approximately 20 different combinations (i.e., systems) possible, but only one is the most cost effective: the one that requires the least steps and less labor. When we approach solutions this way, we find there are products that are not needed and certainly many systems that are not delivering value to customers.

The benefit of changing to a more manageable set of roofing choices is that it will result in less confusion with easier-to-understand procedures, saved time and labor, and simplified training. As a specifier, consultant, or contractor, you’ll know that you’re choosing a system that is reliable and meets your customer’s needs. As a manufacturer or distributor, it means less SKUs to manage, which saves costs associated with codes approvals, manufacturing, and storage. And ultimately for customers it means a more streamlined decision process and cost-effective solution. For all parties involved, it is a win-win situation.

Trudel is taking the lead in focusing on simplifying the sale and creating value for our customers. If more manufacturers follow suit, it can eventually improve competitiveness and cost in the asphaltic industry.

The Importance of Having Your Roof Inspected by a Pro - Especially After Extreme Weather

In Ontario, we get our fair share of thunderstorms during the summer months and snow storms in the winter. While most are harmless, some weather events cause us to make alternative arrangements – a minor inconvenience.

But, what about those unexpected storms that seemingly come out of nowhere and catch us off guard? How prepared are you for them? What about your business? How confident are you that your building and your roof can withstand the power of a major storm?

 

Last summer, the people in Angus Ontario found out just how quickly a storm can turn into a tornado and cause millions of dollars worth of damage to a community. With winds of more than 180 km/h residents had little time to take cover. Thank goodness no one was seriously injured!

The damage of the June tornado also caused many business owners in the area to rethink the importance of proactive maintenance, especially when it comes to roofing.  

Ask yourself - How prepared is your building if an unexpected tornado or storm hit your city? Do you have confidence that your roof could withstand the high winds?

Have Your Roof Inspected After A Major Storm

If you experience a major storm in your area, it’s important to have your roof inspected by a professional commercial roofer. The truth is that most companies don’t bother to call their roofing company unless they see obvious signs of damage, such as water leaks and visible cracks.

However, there are many other types of damage that can occur, with many of these issues being less obvious or hidden from sight unless an inspection is conducted. Failure to have your roof inspected only opens the door to roofing issues in the future. Avoid overlooking small issues as this is what ends up costing companies more money in the long run. Address the small damages now, so they don’t become a more serious and costly issue in the future.

Types of Storm Damage

What type of damage can a major storm cause to your roof? Just about anything you can imagine!  But, you can help to lessen the impact of a storm by taking care of:

• Broken and missing shingles and tiles
• Interior and exterior water leaks
• Hail damage
• Roof lifting
• Downed trees and branches
• Broken eaves, downspouts and facia
• Clogged water drains
• Surface damage
• Debris build up
• Damage from projectiles

These are only some of the many examples of the type of damage that could happen to your roof during a storm.

Don’t get Caught Off Guard - Do You Know What’s Happening Up Top?

Remember that if you don’t know what’s happening up on your roof, it could lead to a major repair that can be easily avoided through regular inspection.  Don’t leave yourself exposed and subjected to more damage simply because you neglected your roof. It will cost you more money and increase the odds of having extensive damage, should a major storm occur.

Preventive Maintenance Is The Key To A Healthy Roof

Taking a proactive approach to roof maintenance ensures that you stay ahead of the game. Addressing minor issues before they become significant roofing issues saves you time, money, and the headache of dealing with roofing issues.

Through our Preventative Maintenance Programs you will be able to stay on top of things and your roof will be better equipped should a major storm occur.

How healthy is your roof? Get peace of mind and book your comprehensive roof inspection today!