An annual Calgary roof inspection is the generally recommended method, no matter how big or small your home is. Roofing problems in Calgary are susceptible to frequent hails. The suggested practice is once in three months. It may come down to once in a month if the roof is aging or made of moderate to the economic class of materials and shingles.
Shingle Material – Quality and Type Matter
Roofing property project wood and clay shingles are made of a single material. Asphalt could have other materials like fibreglass, minerals, metals, cellulose, etc. These materials can increase strength and stability factors. The probability of damage will depend on the size and weight of hail stones. Shingles made from a combination of asphalt, fibreglass, and minerals can have longer durability and resistance to damage. There are no rules for determining the durability factors because the intensity of hails can be unpredictable.
Composite materials are also more resistant to water absorption, humidity, and algae formation. Any roof made of such materials can last relatively longer. So, you can inspect your roof once in six months. Metal shingles have the most extended possible durability and resistance to hails. You may have to inspect them annually unless there is hail that has caused critical damage to the property and structures in your region.
Need for Emergency Inspection
What you have read above are the inspection frequencies when the weather is normal or moderate hails have hit your region. What if the hails are more frequent and the roof is aging? You can experience the symptoms like the
Roof leaks
Pungent odor in your home
Growth of moss
Wet walls, windows, and doors
Growth of mold and mildew
Moist air in your home
If you or any of your family members experience any such conditions after a hail, it is good to have an emergency inspection.
Roof Damaging Factors – Not Just the Hail
Aging and exposure to the elements are the two critical damage factors that can eat into the shingles silently. The funniest part is that you can’t even observe the internal damages like cracks, brittleness, loss of strength, and stability factors.
If the roof is more than ten years, it is better to have an inspection once in two to three months. It has to be extensive and more than visual testing. You may have to do a random quality test of shingles with the help of an expert roofing contractor.
Exposure to snow, rains, and humidity are some of the other reasons which can deteriorate the shingles internally and externally. Spots can develop, which can grow into holes. Of course, there will be frequent leaks under such conditions.
Adhesives on the roof shingles play an important part in holding the blocks together for years. Some modern shingles have a self-locking mechanism which makes the safer and more secure. Then the durability and strength of bonding will also be high.
You might have used adhesives or screws onto the roof shingles during the initial installation. It might have worked for many years when the climatic conditions were relatively good. But the frequent hail could have damaged the adhesives and the fasteners.
The lifespan of adhesives is relatively shorter compared to that of fasteners. You must get the roof inspections at least once in six months if you have used fasteners and once in three months if you have used adhesives.
Seasons and Climates – Critical Inspection Factors
You might have thought summer to be safer for the roof since the volume of damage is assumed to be lower. Consider these factors which can cause roof damage.
Overheating
Water condensation
Mold and mildew
Shingle warping
Cracks due to heat
Curling and drying
Calgary Summer heat can cause all the above damages and much more. Of course, the intensity of injuries depends on the material type and quality.
The heat resistance of asphalt shingles depends on their capacity to absorb and eliminate heat from the sun and climatic conditions. As the temperature increases, it may emit most of it back into the external environment during the night.
Heat elimination capacity depends on material composition like fibreglass and other cooling synthetic elements. They can increase the cooling effects and the lifespan of shingles. If the roof is made of clay or wood, the capacity will be lower.
Winter Damages to the shingles can be due to freezing. It can result in brittleness, cracks, algae, and other external and internal damages that could be invisible. But you can experience the symptoms like freezing air, difficulty in breathing, and ineffective working of room heaters.
When you experience such changes, it is better to have an emergency roof inspection within the next few days. You need to depend on the expertise of a roofing contractor for ensuring complete inspection and solutions for the problems.
Rains can cause maximum damage to the roof, especially on the old and unstable shingles. If you have safe insulation, your home interiors can be safe from leaks and related damages. But persistent rains can reduce resistance factors.
If your home roof is less than five years old, you can opt for annual inspections, provided the climatic and seasonal effects are minimal. Otherwise, you have to consult your roofing contractor to determine the inspection frequency.
DIY Inspections – Do it Randomly
There are certain types of visual inspections that you can do randomly without help from experts. For that, you have to make a list of the most generic damages like
Mold and mildew
Heating effects
Rainwater clogging
Clogged drains and pipes
Cracks
DIY Inspection after rain and hail can be very effective in identifying the generic damages to the roof before they can become serious.
Conclusion
The climatic conditions of Calgary can have a serious impact on the frequency of roof inspections. The best way is to consult your roofing contractor to get the best possible results.