Homeowners, would you like to avoid water problems this year from our July and August monsoon rains? Well, there are things you can check on your roof to help eliminate the possibility of leaks and now is the time before it gets too hot. The following are things to look while up on your roof.

1. Check the base of your standpipes and vent hoods for cracks in the weatherproofing. If there are cracks in the sealant, it is wise to get them filled.

2. Check the joint between your A/C unit and the adjacent duct that carries the air down through the roof. There should be no cracks or gaps. Filling gaps here not only prevents water penetration, but also prevents refrigerated air from escaping.

3. Are there any loose or damaged roof tiles or shingles? If you have a tile roof, check for misplaced or broken tiles that leave the black roofing underlayment exposed. The sun can and will dry out and crack the underlayment, exposing the plywood roof sheathing to water penetration. If you have a shingle roof and a roof mounted TV antenna, check the condition of the shingles under the antenna. You might find droppings from the birds roosting on the antenna have at least partially eaten through the shingles, which might need to be replaced if there is enough damage.

4. If you have a tile roof, make sure the valleys (the intersection between two roof slopes) are clear of debris or loose tiles that could obstruct the flow of water down the valley and off the roof.

5. If you have gutters, check for debris and silt build-up in them. The fine dust we have in the air here combined with roof shingle granules can build up in the gutters. When this is combined with the runoff rainwater, it can be quite heavy and weigh down the gutter system to the point where the gutters start to pull away from the house. The fine dust/granule mixture can turn to mud and settle in the bottom of the gutter, where it often does not get washed down the downspouts by the rain.

For help with these things and more give me a call.

Kris Kaehn
‘Not All Thumbs’ Handyman Service
623-463-8430