An important, yet often overlooked part of winter preparation is ensuring your home’s roofing system ready for the cold. In this short post, we’ll share a few tips on preparing your roof for winter which may just help you save a significant amount of money on future maintenance.
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Conduct a Thorough Check
You may need to climb over your roof or have someone do it for you. You need to carry out checks on the roof to see if there is any penetration on the roof such as vent pipes, pitch pockets, and pipe boots. You need to check the chimney flashings, brick and mortar joints for any defect so that quick repair can be carried out on them before winter. Source: BellRoofingCo
Clean Gutters
Over time, falling leaves and debris will collect in your gutters. If you don’t remove the debris periodically, they will clog up your downspouts, leaving the rainwater with nowhere to go. This will cause them to overflow and likely cause damage to your roof, siding and trim. Even worse, the extra weight of the wet leaves and water could also cause your gutters to rip away from the side of your house, or collapse altogether.
If you are comfortable working on your rooftop, you should:
– Use a hose to rinse the gutters out and flush water through your downspouts; you might need a chimney brush or broom handle to push through any stubborn clogs. Clean up the debris you remove from the downspouts and gutters so it doesn’t collect at the end of the pipe.
– Install leaf guards on your gutters to prevent falling debris from accumulating.
– Add extensions to your downspouts to send the flowing water farther away from your home’s foundation. Source: TadlockRoofing
Perform an Inspection of the Insulation
In the event the insulation sustains damage, you can expect your heating bill to be through the roof. If you begin to see mildew and mold forming inside your house, you need to replace your insulation and it will not be cheap, but still necessary to do. First, indentify the area from where the water is leaking from on the roof and into the insulation. Repair the area promptly before it can cause damage to the insulation. Repair the leak on the roof, and then replace then insulation. Source: ValdezRoofingCompany
Inspect the Roof Edge
The roof edge is the building’s first line of defense against severe weather. If incorrect fasteners are used, improper installation occurs, or weather/time damage the edge it becomes more vulnerable. Inspect the roof edge both from the ground and on the roof. A ground-view allows you to spot inconsistencies or weaknesses before heading up to the roof to inspect those areas closer. Source: Metalera
For more information, contact us now!
Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains Ltd.
168 W 71st Ave, Vancouver, BC V5X 4S7
(604) 360-2114
