When it comes to Los Angeles, not just its locations but also its summers are famous. LA’s summer is no joke, be it scorching temps, relentless sun, or the occasional heat waves that make you feel like you are stepping into a working oven. You might be chilling in the pool, sitting under the A/C, or sipping that iced drink, but there is a part of your house that’s tolerating the heat of that summer, and it is the roof. Summer is punishing in LA, and the roof of your house is the first line of defense against the element. The intense temperature fluctuation, harsh UV rays, and the rare but super real summer storms can do major damage to your house’s roof. So, before the summer sun starts hitting the roof, let’s talk about how you can prepare your roof and make it summer-ready.
Visual Inspection
The first step in maintaining your roof is to go for a good old-fashioned inspection. You don’t have to be a roofing expert. Just go for a visual look from the ground with a pair of binoculars. A few things that you need to keep in mind while looking for your Los Angeles roofing inspection is whether there are any cracks, signs of sagging, rust, uneven spots, or dark streaks. If you catch any of these signs, contact an expert as soon as possible, as this will prevent some serious expenses and future problems.
Roof Ventilation
Roof ventilation is something that most homeowners overlook. A well-designed and structured roof allows the hot air to escape. This process keeps the home cooler and prevents moisture from building up. If your house has poor ventilation, it can lead to moisture buildup; causing mold, high energy bills, and premature aging of the roof materials. So, go to your attic, and if it feels like a sauna to you, then perhaps it is time to hire professionals to improve the roof’s ventilation system.
Check for Sun Damage
UV rays in LA can be harsher than the desert sometimes. These harsh rays can cause serious damage to the material of the roof, especially asphalt shingles. UV rays can crack and brittle them. In addition, seals can also loosen up if the metal expands with the heat. This also depends on the age of your roof. If it is over 10 years old, then it becomes important to look for signs of sun damage. Some early warnings caused by the sun can be warping or fading. So, go for an instant solution, as your roof might not hold up to another brutal summer in LA.
Trim Overhanging Branches
You might find this step a little weird, but trimming those overhanging branches is important. These big, beautiful trees in your yard might be providing shade, but they could damage the roof to a great extent. Overhanging branches can scrape against the roof in the wind, fall during the storm, and drop branches and leaves into the gutters. Go for an inspection and take some time to trim any branch that hangs directly over your roof. This will not only protect your roof in the summer, but small animals like rats, raccoons, and squirrels will not use your roof as their summer hangout place.
Schedule Roof Inspection
Just like any other tool or machine, your roof also requires inspection. Not just a regular inspection but a professional one. Roofing professionals can spot minor and major issues that aren’t obvious to the untrained eye. A roofing professional checks for areas and conditions like vents, chimney caps, structural integrity, underlayment conditions, and flashing. Roofing professionals provide a timeline of when you should go for a replacement or repair so that you can plan a proper budget accordingly.
Final Words
Surviving the summer of LA is not an easy task, and if you are planning for the long-term, then go for a cool roof, or you can also apply a reflective coating to reduce the heat. In addition, if there is a chance that your LA house roof is nearing the end of its lifespan, suppose 20 or 30 years (depending on the material), it’s time for you to start preparing a budget for its replacement. For other locations, it might be a big investment, but in LA’s climate, it’s more than that. It doesn’t just save bills, but also protects property value and peace of mind.
There is no doubt that the weather of Los Angeles is beautiful, but it is also harsh on roofs. A little attention and careful consideration can change the game and save you thousands in repairs later. Grab your checklist, call a professional, and get the job done to handle another hot season of LA like a champ.
