Advertisment
With winter just a few months away, staying warm and safe is everyone’s top priority.
No one would mind you if you start fumbling through your dresser to check if your clothes are in mint condition or if you drive out to the nearest tire shop to get new snow tires or chains. Having someone check if your heater is at peak condition is a must, too. You wouldn’t want it breaking down in the middle of winter, right?
One can only imagine how great of an inconvenience that would be!
But can you guess the worst possible scenario that can happen during winter?
It’s not finding out that your clothes have a few holes on them.
It’s not having to drive slower than the norm because you couldn’t afford to buy a new set of tires.
It’s also not realizing that your heater decided to break down in the middle of the night.
It’s waking up one fine winter day and see snow falling, not just outside your home, but inside as well!
Yes, just like your clothes, your tires, and your heater, your roof also has its limitations.
A fresh layer of snow can add at least 20 pounds of weight per cubic foot, but wet snow or snow that has thawed and refrozen through the night can add at least 60 pounds of weight per cubic foot!
If you didn’t make time to give proper care to your roof during the year, don’t be surprised if it suddenly gives up on you in the dead of winter.
But we’re not here to guilt-trip you if you have neglected giving maintenance to your roof, we’re here to let you know that if you have overlooked that responsibility, it’s not too late to start today.
Got a sturdy ladder stashed somewhere in the garage? It’s there for a reason.
Here are some questions you can ask yourself while examining the condition of your roof:
Does the framework seem like it’s sagging?
Is there a build-up of debris in gutters and valleys?
Do the flashings need some fixing?
Are there any broken shingles or tiles?
Is there a slight draft in the attic?
Knowing the answers to these questions will not only give you a gist of your roof’s condition, but it will make it easier and faster for a roof professional to do the necessary repairs before any major damage is done.
While you might be tempted to do the minor repairs on your own, skimping on professional roof maintenance before there is any actual damage may cost you more in the long run.
Contacting a trusted roof professional to inspect your roof’s condition and do repairs would be the wisest precaution you can make before the cold days come in. Giving them your initial assessment will also speed up the process since this will help them know where else to look.
Sagging framework? Damaged flashing? Those can lead to major leaks.
That build-up on your valleys and gutters? Those can potentially damage your roof and the exterior walls of your home.
That draft in the attic? That can lead to heat seeping out to the shingles, which can create ice dams during winter, and you wouldn’t want that to happen at any given point in time.
So before you feel the drop in temperature, make a quick appointment with your trusted roofing company. Trust us, they would be more than willing to help you prepare for winter.
If there’s one thing you don’t have control over during winter, it would be the frequency of snowfall.
We’ve mentioned how snow build-up can definitely damage your roof, but before you grab your trusty ladder and scrape the snow off yourself, we suggest that you invest in a snow removal plan with your roofing company.
Most, if not all, roofing companies have workers who have been trained in removing snow. So go ahead, ask them what their snow removal plans are and how they work and choose the best one for yourself.
If there’s one thing that you can be certain of, it’s that roofing companies’ top priority is to have everyone safe and warm during winter, and climbing up to the roof to remove the build-up on your own is not only time-consuming but dangerous as well.
In the end, it doesn’t matter which season it is, roof maintenance and precaution will definitely help prolong the life expectancy of your roof and benefit you in the long run.
Roofing Journey is dedicated to keeping you warm and safe in and out of seasons by giving you a list of roofing experts who can help you maintain and apply preventive measures on your roof.
Get instant access to our roofing experts here or email us at hello@roofingjourney.com.
Our expert roofing contracrors will gladly inspect, repair, and maintain the quality of your roof!
