Mike Silvers, CPRC, Silvers Systems Inc & FRSA Director of Technical Services
FRSA was recently contacted by Mike DeForest of
Channel 6 News television station in Orlando. They requested
our help with their annual pre-hurricane season
report. In preparing for the interview, I put together some
suggestions for consumers. We thought it might be helpful
to share some of our suggestions with our readers. If you
are a member, feel free to share this with your customers.
If you live in the Orlando area, keep an eye out for the
interview.
■ Inspect your roof if you are physically able and have the proper equipment (ladder, etc.). Be careful, you don’t want to create a man-made disaster while trying to prepare for a natural one.
■ If your roof covering is tile and you don’t know how to walk on it, you shouldn’t. You can do serious damage to the tile. This also applies to metal products that imitate tile.
■ Metal roofs can be very slick, particularly where they are shaded. This can also be true for other roof coverings as well.
■ If you are in doubt, you should strongly consider hiring a professional. Ask yourself this question: even if I successfully climb up to, traverse, and climb down from my roof, will I know what to look for?
■ Missing, displaced or cracked tile or shingles should be identified and addressed.
■ Drainage systems such as drains, scuppers, and gutters should be cleaned out and inspected.
■ Flashings at valleys, walls, change of slope, or roof types should be inspected and addressed if needed.
■ Hip and ridge conditions should be inspected for missing, damaged, or loose caps.
■ Penetrations like vents, electrical risers, pipe and conduit penetrations, and plumbing stacks should be addressed as needed. In particular, if you have lead boots on your plumbing stacks, you should look for squirrel damage. They chew the top off the boots and during heavy sustained rains these will leak. A new lead sleeve can be installed over the existing boot as long as the damage is not too close to the roof surface. A little sealant on the top edge may discourage the squirrels.
■ If it has been a while since your roof was installed, give some consideration to when it should be replaced. Different roof types have varying serviceable life cycles. A licensed roofing contractor can give you some idea based on the roof type and its age, but there is no substitute for getting a knowledgeable professional to assess your roof covering’s overall condition.
■ If reroofing is needed, make sure your sheathing is renailed if required to meet the current building code.
■ Consider upgrading the roof-to-wall connections and gable end bracing if they are deficient.
■ Inspect porch or carport columns. Also inspect metal canopies and screen enclosures both for attachment at columns and walls, as well as how they attach to the main structure. If these are blown off they can do a lot of damage to the structure as they leave.
Michael J. Silvers, CPRC is FRSA’s Director of Technical Services. Mike is an FRSA Past President, Life Member, Campanella Award Recipient, and a Florida Licensed Certified Roofing Contractor who brings over 40 years of industry knowledge and experience to FRSA’s team. Mike is available to FRSA members who have codes or technical questions and can be reached at 800-767-3772 ext. 169 or by email at silvers@floridaroof.com.
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