As the weather cools and autumn leaves begin to fall, there’s just no denying that winter is coming. It’s time to prepare your home for the harsh winter months. You’ve probably scheduled a check-up for your heater, turned off your outdoor faucets, and started digging out your sweaters. But have you checked your roof?
Here are a few tips from the roofing experts at Elegant Exteriors, LLC. to help you prepare your roof for colder weather:
Clean Your Gutters
Debris, such as falling leaves, can clog your gutters and downspouts so that rain overflows into your roof, fascia, siding and soffits. The extra weight from that debris can also cause your gutters to come loose and collapse.
Clear Away Debris
Debris on the surface of your roof will collect moisture, which can break down your roofing material. If you feel comfortable walking on your roof, then you can sweep it clean just like you sweep your floors. Of course, you can always contact a professional roofer, instead.
Check Out Your Attic
Is your attic well-insulated? If the answer is no, then a high heating bill won’t be your only concern. When heat escapes from your living space into the attic, it can become trapped beneath your shingles. This leads to the development of ice dams, which causes pooling water, a leaky roof, and long term deck rot.
Examine Your Shingles
Scan the top of your roof for missing shingles or shingles with cracked, curled, or frayed edges. When a shingle is missing from your home, it exposes nail heads and seams that can lead to leaks and structural damage to your home.
Look for These Common Issues…
- Signs of sagging on your roof
- Flashing (a metal that prevents water penetration near chimneys, siding and other roof protrusions) that has come loose
- Cracked or worn sealant around satellite dishes, chimney flashing, ridge caps and other features
- Chimney damage such as missing mortar or loose bricks
- Dry rot on rubber gaskets surrounding pipe vents.
Our Team Is Always Ready to Help!
What should you do if you spot any potential issues with your roof? Contact the Elegant Exteriors, LLC. team right away! We will thoroughly inspect your roof and restore it to good condition before winter arrives. Just call 256-NEW-ROOF (639-7663) to request a FREE estimate from our qualified roofing technicians.
