Come winter, and all we can think of is keeping the interiors of the house warm and snug. Among the most obvious choices in appliances to warm up the house are heaters and air conditioning. However, we will be looking at options on how your roof can help keep your home warm.
The foremost step is to ensure that the roof is ready for harsh winter conditions. You can start with routine roof maintenance tasks before winter sets. Regular checks will help identify problem areas and can help your home stay warm and comfortable as well as prevent expensive repairs later. Let us look at nine maintenance tasks to prepare your roof for winter.
Repair Damaged Shingles
Very often missing, damaged and loose shingles can expose a home to roof-leaks and water damage if not fixed before winter. Broken shingles let in water to seep underneath and make its way into your home. Damaged shingles become loose, and strong winter winds can blow them away. While changing or repairing shingles may seem an easy task, it is best to leave the work to professional roofers.
Repair Damaged Flashing
Roof flashing is a vitally important component of a well-maintained roof. It is a strong line of protection for your home preventing water damage by diverting water from specific areas. While checking you should pay attention around the chimney and to roof valleys and overhangs. Take your time to make sure that everything is in peak condition and won’t allow leaks.
Replace Old Caulking
The Dynaroof Roof Squad professionals suggest checking the caulk/sealant around vent pipes, chimneys and counter-flashing. It is an essential part of the roof defence that prevents water from entering that joint by channelling water away from it. Extreme winter conditions may shrink, and caulking can crack if it’s old and dry. Hence it is better to change old caulking to keep critical junctures in your roof watertight and dry.
Get Your Roof Rake Ready
In areas where snowfall is extreme, using a rake to remove snow is essential. It is a good idea to remove every six inches of snowfall to create a path for runoff snow to flow off of the roof harmlesslyIf you don’t already own one,
Although professionals do a perfect job, you can do it yourself by using a good quality plastic roof rake or one with rollers so that you don’t rub the granules off the shingles.
Trim the Trees
Making sure that you trim the trees around your roof is a must-do task that can help avoid roof damage when the winter snow, ice and winds arrive. It is important to trim off the overhanging branches as Broken branches can fall on the roof and may inflict more damage.
Install a Heat Cable
Heat cables come handy in areas where ice dams have been a problem in the past, such as gutters, downspouts or even directly on the roof. Do consult your roofer and make sure that they instal it in strategic areas in the gutters and downspouts.
Improve Attic Ventilation
It is essential to close up all ingress openings in the attic and make sure that there is adequate ventilation. Adding more roof vents and removing insulation that might be blocking the vents can improve attic ventilation.
Upgrade Insulation
Do not forget to look for missing or damaged insulation in the attic. It can cause problems leading to ice dams. Hot air from inside of the home travels to your attic space if there is not enough insulation to stop the heat transfer.
Roofing professionals can help in upgrading insulation.
Clean Gutters and Downspouts
It is essential to clean gutters and downspouts before winter arrives. Cleaning will prevent clogs which often lead to serious ice dams on your roof in winter.
Accumulated ice around gutters and eaves can form an ice dam blocking roof drainage and leading to a freeze-thaw cycle. Later this leads to separating shingles from the roof deck and create an entry point for moisture.
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