It’s important to take some steps to winterize your home before the inevitably wet, snowy, and chilly weather hits your area. While your HVAC system is an integral part of keeping your home warm during the extremely cold weather, your winterization plan should also include your home’s roofing system. Don’t worry if you aren’t sure about what to do! We have put together a checklist to help you make your home more comfortable during winter. Here is the ultimate checklist for winterizing your roof.
Conduct Necessary Repairs
Those who don’t pay much attention to the maintenance of their roof suffer the most as winter approaches. A roofing system can have many weak spots that occur over time. These weak spots tend to worsen during winter as they are exploited by damaging external elements. Therefore, it is important to conduct necessary repairs, including repair damaged or loose shingles and replacing missing shingles, before winter arrives.
Cut Tree Limbs
Even the healthiest tree limbs can come tumbling down on your roof as a result of high winds or the weight of ice and snow. If the trees surrounding your home have grown taller than your roof and are threatening your roofing system, then cut back the tree limbs instantly. This will help save you from emergency repair and protect your home from any water damage.
Get Your Roof Gutters Cleaned
Your roof and roof gutters must be thoroughly cleaned before the arrival of winter. The growth of algae on your roof can seep under the shingles. This worsens during winter as freezing temperatures cause the algae to expand and expose your roof to damaging elements. Rain gutters also play an integral role in maintaining your roofing system. A clogged or damaged rain gutter allows water to penetrate your roof, attic, and home, causing significant damage to your yard and even the foundation of your home.
Check the Insulation of Your Attic
Insulation keeps your home warm during winter and cool during summer. It is imperative to keep a check on your attic’s insulation to ensure that it is in good shape. Any damp or moldy insulation must be removed to protect your roof. Adding insulation to your attic, when required, is a great way to save energy, improve comfort, and protect your roofing system.
Get Frequent Professional Roof Inspections
As a homeowner who loves doing things by themselves, it may be tempting for you to climb on your roof to practice some of these tips, such as repairing shingles. However, you must know that this isn’t safe at all! Walking on the roof can be quite dangerous; a single stumble or misstep can lead to disastrous consequences. Moreover, walking on a roof could also end up damaging other tiles or shingles. Therefore, the best way to protect your roof and get it ready for the winter season is to schedule a professional roof inspection. Not only will this help elongate the lifespan of your roofing system, but it will also improve the efficiency of your home. To learn more about winterizing your home, contact
now!
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Tips to Help Your Roof Withstand the Winter
Many people love winter. The sight of snow-covered streets and the feel of snow against the skin are the most perfect things to experience. But, the winter also comes with its own challenges. When the sun is up and the snow starts to melt, people start observing the downside of the season they all love. During winter, the one thing that you have to do is to protect your house against the harsh weather. Your roof is the main element that remains exposed to all kind of weather. If you want to ensure that your house doesn't meet with unnecessary damage, you have to protect your roof from all kind of damage. This is why it is important to protect your roof against the mid-winter damage. How can you do so, you might ask? In this article, we'll have a look at the various ways through which you can prepare your roof for the harsh winters. Besides our tips for roof maintenance, one thing that you should do is to
for a careful inspection of your roofing structure so that the big problems, if any, can be identified in a timely manner.
1. Fix Existing Leaks
As mentioned above, your roof is exposed to all kind of weather conditions. It is also a protective layer above your house that keeps your house unscathed. During harsh weather like a heavy snowstorm or a windstorm, your roof can be slightly damaged. Problems like cracked or missing shingles are quite common in American households. While this problem can be easily fixed, it is important to carefully examine the roof for all existing leaks. In case the problem remains unattended, the snow will leak into your house and you will find it difficult to keep your house heated.
2. Prevent Ice Dams
Ice dams are formed because of clogged gutters. The gutter holds water and moisture and on a cold day the moisture freezes. The ice accumulated can damage your rooftop. In fact, it also gets difficult to drain the water collected when snow starts melting. To prevent this situation from happening, the best thing is to keep your gutters clean all the time.
3. Trim the Trees
Do you have any trees that touch your roof? Or do the hanging branches of your neighbor's trees mess with your rooftop? During a severe weather condition, the trees' branches can snap and land on your roof. The pressure put on your roof can be damaging. Also, broken branches on the roof also create hindrance for the water accumulated on the roof and prevent it from reaching the drain. This is why, as a safety step, trim your trees regularly.
Summary
Homeowners who show concern for their roof safety get successful in preventing major roof damage. We all know how expensive it is to get
work done. Not only that, roof damage also has direct effect on the interior of your house and you are likely to experience more problems. Follow these easy steps to prepare for winter.