How to maintain your roof during winter
Winter can come along with unexpected damages to your roof that might end up costing you a huge sum of money but the good thing is that it is possible to prevent that from happening if you follow some maintenance tips. If you want to learn all about that, stick around because in this article we discuss some of the tips that you can follow and you might end up saving you thousands of dollars. But is your roof ready to stand up to the problems that comes along with winter?
When winter comes, it means you will have to spend most of your time in the house because of the low temperatures that makes it very difficult to accomplish some of the day to day activities. It is important to maintain your roof all year round but it is vital to ensure that during the cold seasons the roof is at its best conditions. This is because it is during this times that your roof is in for the biggest hit and the heavy snow buildup on your roof can even lead to the fall of the roof! Today we look at some of the tips that will help you ensure your roof operating at peak performance. Are you ready to learn? Check them out.
Remove snow as soon as possible
The snow on top of your roof can look kind of cute but that’s should not make you want to leave the snow on top of the roof because if left for far too long it can even lead to the collapse of the entire roof. The snow and the ice creates a heavy load to your roof and if it is comprised could be a risk to the roof. And if the precipitation remains on the roof it can cause a thing that goes by the name ice dam when it melts.
Water is no problem to your roof, after all rain always fall on top of the roof but when it comes to the refreezing water, that’s a different story entirely. The ice will melt during the day and create water and during the night when the temperature goes down, the water will harden and become ice again. This leads to creation of a dam in and around the gutters that will back up any runoff precipitation. This will in turn lead to lose shingles which will of course lead to leakages.
Remove the ice and snow from your roof as soon as possible to ensure that your roof remains dry. It is important to note that the roof can be very slippery and shoveling out the ice and snow on your own can prove to be dangerous. But the good thing is that you can hire an expert to help you out and the ice and snow will be taken care of and your roof is going to safe. And all that comes at a very reasonable fee.
Repair Flashing
It is very important that you make sure to look at the flashing that already exist before you start your roof maintenance routine. And even if the roof was installed perfectly some time ago, it is possible that the roof got warped out or it even became loosened as time went by. If you find that your roof have got some problems, it is vital that you make sure it is fixed as soon as possible.
If your flashing is not function perfectly, it will allow the snow to enter to your roof more freely and with excess moisture buildup, it can lead to an interior leak. It is also very important to check your shingles and if there is a problem, make sure they are repaired as soon as possible because the more you delay the more money you will have to use in future.
Check your Gutters
Well, the very first place that the freezing precipitation accumulate is the gutters of your roof and that’s why it is very important to make sure that your gutters are in the best conditions. If there is any icicles hanging off the gutters then it is possible that there is going to be a buildup.
If the gutters of your roof is filled with ice, they will weaken them and they will not be able to hold the weight and it can lead the gutters tearing off from your roof. Am sure you know that if that’s happen you will be required to use a lot of money for repair. So ensure that you get rid of ice dams on your gutters and that’s the key to keeping your gutters strong and functioning the right way.
Check attic ventilation
Well, you may not know it but the performance of your attic is affected by how your roof is performing. If your attic is poorly insulated or even ventilated it can expose the roof more to the winter elements and this will allow the formation of ice dams. And we have already identified how ice dams can affect your roof negatively. Get to your attic and make sure that the attic is well ventilated and most importantly, it has sufficient insulation. By keeping the airflow consistent you will be keeping your roof protected as it is supposed to be.
Remove Debris
It is very important to make sure that before the winter come your roof and the surrounding elements like the flashing, gutters, and downspouts are clear of all debris. The debris are things like leaves, pine needles, and other grimes that normally accumulate on the surface of the roof. This will ensure that the moisture that comes along the winter do not have an extra grip on the roof.
In Awe Roofing Limited is an Award-Winning, family owned and operated Vancouver Roofing Contractor with over 17 years of roofing experience. We serve the entire Lower Mainland area, from Whistler to Chilliwack, employing a team of professional staff members. Our team has won numerous awards including Best of Homestars for the last five years, and Three Best Rated six years in a row. Learn more
