Roofing materials used in today’s homes are designed to withstand a wide range of climatic extremes and provide homeowners with optimal protection. Even if winter is here, it is possible to maintain the safety and comfort of your home and its interiors thanks to this feature. But for them to stay effective over time, they will need regular care and maintenance from roofing contractors who know what they are doing.
If you hire a reliable contractor to construct and maintain your roof, it will be able to easily withstand the effects of the natural environment. However, considering that winter has already begun, there is a possibility that your roof will sustain damage as a result of the accumulation of ice and snow. If you want to avoid unneeded repairs caused by winter weather, you will need to take preventative measures to shield your roof from the elements. However, considering that winter has already begun, there is a possibility that your roof will sustain damage as a result of the accumulation of ice and snow. If you want to avoid unneeded repairs caused by winter weather, you will need to take preventative measures to shield your roof from the elements. The following is what you need to do:
Conduct a Comprehensive Inspection
Make it a practice to perform a short inspection of your home’s roofing system from time to time, aside from routine maintenance inspections by qualified specialists. This is important for a number of reasons, one of which is the possibility that your roof has minor damage that was missed during the maintenance inspection. This could indicate that the damage occurred later or that it was missed during a routine inspection, which doesn’t happen very often. In either case, the sooner the damage is discovered, the faster it may be repaired.
If your roof isn’t properly maintained, it will always be vulnerable to damage. If preparations aren’t followed, certain wintertime components, such as snow and ice, can end up being the main sources of harm. And if they aren’t fixed right away, the damage gets worse and can become expensive to fix, especially during the season.
Remove Unwanted Junk
Your roof and gutters will always have some debris, which, if they weren’t properly cleaned away, might lead to winter damage. Fallen branches and leaves can trap moisture that, if left unattended, can slowly permeate your roof. The accumulation of mold and mildew caused by the moisture in your roofing system might impact your home’s ventilation system through the ductwork. It can also damage the structural integrity of your roof by causing the wooden components to decay.
Other items blown by the wind may dislodge the shingles or tiles on your roof, resulting in damage. Additionally, nuts and berries can fall on your roof and attract pests like squirrels and birds that could harm the surface of your roof. As you clean your roof, you should also keep an eye out for “dips” or depressions on the surface. Once the ice and snow melt, water may possibly collect in these areas. Remember to inspect and clean your gutter installation as well, as there may be clogs and debris from the fall season there. Because the water runoff is properly channeled down the drain by clean gutters, your roof will dry out more quickly.
Make sure to properly remove all of the debris while using the appropriate safety gear. You may always hire a reputable contractor to clean your roof for you if you don’t want to take a chance on getting hurt or having an accident while doing so. You can be sure that your roof is prepared to withstand the next winter’s weather since the professionals will clean it even more thoroughly.
Examine Your Siding and Shingles
If your roof is made of asphalt shingles, it’s crucial to carefully inspect it for damage. Strong winds can easily rip off cracked or loose shingles, leaving areas of your roof vulnerable to winter damage. Additionally, search your attic for any holes that have slivers of light coming through them. To keep snow and ice from entering your home, these need to be patched. Repairing damaged shingles and adding missing ones keeps water from penetrating your roof.
You should also check your gutters and siding for damage. Any siding damage might affect your roof, especially where the two surfaces converge. Be sure to look for loose panels and damaged soffits and take immediate action to fix them. A skilled gutter repair is also necessary to minimize winter damage because damaged gutters can lead to water leaks in unintended locations and siding panel gaps.
Get Rid of the Extra Snow
There will be a weight restriction on what your roofing system can support. The majority of residential roofing systems can often withstand 20 pounds of snow per square foot, but if you don’t want yours to sag or collapse beneath the weight, don’t take any chances. Fresh snow shouldn’t be left on your roof for too long since it might freeze and become “old snow” by becoming mushy and icy. Make sure to remove it using a snow rake and a ladder because it weighs more than freshly fallen snow. To avoid falling and getting hurt, remember that you must do things cautiously and with safety gear.
Prevent Pest Damage by Taking Action
Even though it’s lovely to have squirrels and birds living in the trees that surround your house, in the winter they may be drawn inside by the warmth. Squirrels and other small animals can easily hop over overhanging branches and find a way onto your roof in order to be warm and snug. This frequently results in undesired roof damage as well as new pest issues.
Birds, bats, mice, and even rats may seek warmth and shelter on your roof with other creatures. Even if it means causing damage to your roofing material, they will claw or eat their way inside. Additionally, they’ll do partial damage to your siding, insulation, and wiring, which could result in moisture damage to the inside parts of the exterior of your home. Your ventilation system will ultimately start to emit strange odors, which can be disconcerting.
We advise hiring a specialist to clean out your roof if there are indications of a bug or animal infestation. Doing it yourself isn’t worth the work, and if you don’t have the correct tools, you could get bitten and hurt. To stop future animal intrusions, all the damaged areas and entry points must be sealed off completely.
To ensure that you don’t miss any aspects that are essential to the security of your property, you may ask the professionals for assistance while you go through the maintenance checklist. Need assistance with this? Give us a call today and we’d be happy to help!