Cold months are upon us. And, with the rough weather looming on the horizon, the time is just right for you to start preparing your roof for winter. Employing careful maintenance can greatly extend the longevity of your roof, and even safeguard it against some serious damage. With this in mind, we will provide you with some tips that ought to help you get your roof ready for the storms ahead.
Assess the framework of your roof
Better safe than sorry. And this saying is especially applicable when it comes to things as big as your roof. After all, a professional roof assessment only adds to the insurance of your roof. So, when preparing your roof for winter, have your roof contractor inspect your roof’s framework. You want to arrange this every year for maximum security. Make sure to address any signs of sagging before the winter weather arrives. Your roofer will be able to spot any signs of trouble before they lead to a leak.
Examine flashing
The area along the flashing tends to be one of the most common sports for leaks to appear. That is why you want to ensure it does not come to that. Your professional roof assessor ought to spend time inspecting this area of your roof. Once he determines that it is completely sealed, you will have nothing to worry about in that regard. Just make sure to check your flashing at least once a year, and ensure it is not knocked loose after a storm.
Inspect roof valleys
Additional areas that are rather prone to leaks are the valleys of your roof. A great way to prevent any unfortunate event from occurring is to keep those valleys cleared of any debris accumulation. This will reduce the weight sitting in these areas and further help avert unnecessary wear and tear of your roof. In addition, it will keep your extend your roof’s longevity.
Go over your roof shingles
Just like those flashings we spoke about, your roof’s shingles can loosen after exposure to rough weather. And it does not take much for missing granules and visible signs of curling to occur. These tend to indicate that a shingle is suffering and most probably needs to be replaced. Do not worry, though. Your professional roofer can replace shingles with great ease. They can also inform you about the overall condition of the shingles on your roof, allowing you to know exactly what to expect when preparing your roof for winter.
Clear debris when preparing your roof for winter
Make sure to clear your gutters, spouts, and drains. You want to do this before the storms hit your region. If at any moment you do not feel confident or comfortable with this task and are having trouble with working atop a ladder, by all means, hire assistance. Your contractor can perform this essential maintenance for you. Just make sure not to postpone this paramount task in order to properly prepare your roof for winter.
Check the gutters of your roof
While taking care of cleaning, you also want to make sure the gutters are secured to your home. You see, loose gutters can mean all sorts of trouble for your roof. The ones that are not securely tightened can lead to an overflow. This will further damage your roof, as well as the exterior walls of your home. And no one needs that sort of trouble to deal with.
Check and replace sealant if necessary
Provided that your roof has antennas, plumbing stacks or brick stacks, you should most definitely check the sealer around the base of these features. If you are inexperienced in the matter, have your contractor check it. Sealer and caulk will wear over time. Since there is no way to go around this, you want to protect your roof by replacing any sealant that has become cracked or worn out.
Do not forget to deep-check the chimney
That is, ask your roofer to inspect it for you. If he notices that certain chunks of mortar are missing, or that some bricks have become loose, you will need to have these features repaired. Keep in mind, though, that your roofer may not be equipped to tackle this type of service. If that is the case, you will need to inform your contractor of the problem and hire someone who does brickwork.
Take a look around the attic
Avoid the mistake many homeowners make and check your attic when performing your roof examination. The goal here is to ensure that your attic has plenty of evenly distributed insulation in order to keep the heat in your home. Exiting heat can cause a lot of trouble. For one, that heat can become trapped under your shingles, and that may lead to the development of ice dams. To put it mildly, this spells trouble for your roof. Ice dams are characterized by a sequence of melting and freezing snow which can damage areas of your roof with great ease. And let’s not forget that your energy bills will skyrocket if the heat starts seeping out of your home.
Lastly, monitor your roof
After preparing your roof for winter, it would be smart that you keep an eye on it. And, if you suspect a problem, restrain yourself from getting up on an icy roof yourself. When it comes to winter repairs, it is best to entrust a professional with handling them. In fact, whatever the season of the year maybe, it would be ideal to allow professional contractors to handle the maintenance and repair of this essential home feature.
