Do you know if your roof is ready to take on the stressors that come with winter? Your roof is responsible for keeping you, your family, your home and your belongings safe. It is an integral part of your home’s structure. Roof issues can quickly snowball into problems in many other areas of the home, for example, water damage or mould growth.
To avoid running into problems and dealing with other issues, you should get your roof prepared before the winter frost hits or as soon as you can.
In order to keep your roof in its best condition and avoid any expensive mid-winter repairs, you should dedicate some time to conducting a round of maintenance. If you complete these maintenance tasks while the weather is mild, you will be able to save yourself the trouble later on.
Top Winter Roof Maintenance Tips
These are our top maintenance tips for protecting your roof against the winter weather.
Ice Dam Prevention
Ice dams form when you have clogged gutters. The gutters hold moisture and water, and when the cold weather arrives, this moisture freezes over. The ice will cause damage to your roof as time goes on, and it also prevents the snow from fully melting and running through your gutters.
In order to be prepared for winter, you will need to make sure that your gutters are fully cleaned out to prevent any clogs and so that water is able to flow down freely. This will help reduce or eliminate any ice dams from forming.
Having proper attic venting and insulation will also help you reduce ice dams since warm air coming through your ceiling is able to also cause snow to melt, run down your roof and then freeze, which produces ice dams.
Fix Any Leaks
If you already have existing leaks, you will need to find them and fix them. Look at your roof and see if any shingles need to be replaced. Use a flashlight to look through your attic for any signs of water stains or dripping.
Check Over Your Flashing
Damaged flashing can also be a cause of leaks. Flashing connects your roof to other structures of your home, like the skylights, chimneys, windows, vents, etc. Do an inspection on your flashing to make sure everything is in good condition. If you need to replace your flashing, be sure that it is installed properly or more leaks in your home.
Look At The Interior And Exterior Of Your Home For Areas Of Sagging Roof
Take a look at your roofline and try to see if there are any places that are sagging or bending in any way. When looking at the inside of your home, can you see the roof sagging inward while in the attic?
If your roof is sagging, you will likely need to bring in a professional roofing contractor to look over the issue and help you with a solution. You might also need to have your roof’s framing structure checked out by a residential architecture or framing carpenter. Contact us today for Roofers in Surrey and Vancouver area!