Make Sure Your Roof Is Safe During Winter
If you celebrate Christmas, you likely look forward to a "visit" from Santa Claus. Otherwise, your roof should be in good shape all winter long to avoid costly repairs. Read on to learn more about checking for and correcting the following roof issues.
1. Ice Dams
If there are big sheets of ice along the edges of your roof, your roof could struggle to hold the weight. Add a man and his sleigh and your roof is in trouble. These ice dams are not good for your shingles, either; the ice can work its way under your shingles and pry them off the roof. If you do notice ice dams on the roof, then you probably need to add some more insulation to your attic. Try unrolling another layer of fiberglass batt insulation up there. If this does not work, you may need to have a roofing contractor add some more vents to your roof so that heat can escape through the vents instead of melting all the snow along your roof peak.
2. Peeling Chimney Flashing
Hardly anyone wants to deal with peeling and hanging chimney flashing—even on warmer days. Water could also seep under that peeling flashing, causing your roof underlayment to rot and deteriorate. Repairing chimney flashing is a harder job than it looks like since the flashing is usually nestled under the shingles that surround your chimney. While you can temporarily caulk the flashing down yourself, you will ultimately want a local roofing company to come properly move the shingles, replace the flashing, and secure the shingles back in place.
3. Blocked Gutters
If your gutters are not draining, then Santa may encounter a slippery, ice-covered roof when he tries to land the sleigh. Even if that's not your main concern, blocked drains can cause other issues. Wait for a warmer day, and then climb up on a ladder to clean your gutters. Put some gloves on, and just reach your hand down in there, pulling out the debris. When you can get water to run freely down your downspout, you know your job is done.
With clear gutters, intact flashing, and an absence of ice dams, your roof will be solid protection against whatever winter will throw at you. Whether it's warm or cold, it's important to pay attention to your roof's condition. Contact a roofing contractor if you need any help with maintaining, replacing or installing a new roof.