During routine inspections of your roof and chimney from the ground, you may start to notice that the flashing around your roof is starting to wear. In these cases, it may be necessary to inspect it further, and fix the caulking to help ensure your roof maintains its integrity. We cannot stress enough the importance of safety when you are on the roof of your home. A safety harness and proper footwear are just the beginning. If you do not feel comfortable doing this type of work on your own, call in a professional. If you have experience with this type of work and have the right safety equipment, check out our tips on inspecting and caulking flashing.
Check the base of your chimney, anywhere two pieces of the roof may intersect, and any spots that run along walls. Flashing is your main defense against leaks, so you want to ensure that it’s securely fastened.
Inspect the caulking on the roof. Any that is showing signs of wear, or have holes in it should be removed. Using a putty knife for a 5-in-1 Tool, remove the old caulking and wipe the area down so that there’s a clean area for the new caulking to adhere to.
Once those seams are cleaned, apply the new caulk in those areas. This area is well out of sight of prying neighbourhood eyes, so it doesn’t have to look pretty, but it does have to be done well. Apply even pressure throughout the job and you should be good to go.
While you’re on the roof, take time to inspect vent collars and pipes. Some vent collars are equipped with a rubber sleeve to help with tightness around the pipe. Inspect that rubber as it can become brittle from exposure to the elements. If need be, replace those to help ensure integrity.
