Each season comes with its own trials and
tribulations. Whether it's rain, wind, sun, or snow, no matter what season it
is you should make sure your home is weatherproofed. Weatherproofing your roof
and home properly can prevent extensive damage that can result in costly
repairs. Use these roofing company solutions to keep your home protected in
every season.
Clean
Your Gutters Regularly
Your gutters can get filled with leaves,
branches, and other debris. The weight of this debris can cause your gutters to
begin to pull away from your roof, leaving cracks where water can seep into
your roofing materials. The debris can also cause your gutters to not function
properly and force water to build up inside the gutters and overflow down the
side of your house. Regularly clean out your gutters and have them inspected
for any gaps, cracks, or sagging to prevent other damage.
Install
Gutter Guards
To prevent unwanted debris from landing in
your gutters, you can have gutter guards installed on your gutters. Gutter
guards are crates or cages that lay on top of your gutter to keep debris out of
your gutters and prevent any clogging to allow your gutter system to work
correctly. With debris lying on top of the gutter guards, the leaves and
branches can easily be blown off your roof by the wind. If the debris isn't
blown off, the gutter guards make cleaning much easier. Gutter guards are
especially a great idea if your house has many trees surrounding it with tree
branches overhanging your roof.
Check
Your Downspouts
Your downspouts are the pieces of your gutter
system that move water from the top of your gutters, down to the ground. If your downspouts are not functioning properly, were
incorrectly installed, or are not the right size, the runoff cannot
be diverted away from your home correctly. When the runoff is not moving away
from your home, it can pool on the side of your house, potentially leading to
water damage in your basement or foundation from water seeping in. Basement and
foundation water damage can be extremely costly to repair. To prevent this,
have a roofing contractor check your entire gutter system.
Improve
Your Insulation
Insulation is meant to retain conditioned air
that your HVAC unit works hard to produce. Whether it's winter or summer, you
want to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. If you do not have proper
insulation, hot and cold air from outside can come in through your attic and
walls. This unwanted air will cause you to run your HVAC units longer,
increasing energy costs. Have an inspection done by a qualified roofing company
to see what level of insulation you have to ensure that your home will be
comfortable in every season.
There are additional benefits to improving
your home's insulation. Learn more about the importance of proper attic insulation for your roof.
Apply
New Weatherstripping
If you have a skylight on your roof, the edges
surrounding it can be susceptible to allowing water in. Weatherstripping is a
small, thin piece of metal, vinyl, rubber, felt, or foam that seals the area
between the fixed and moveable sections of a window or door. Skylights should
be installed with weatherstripping, but it can wear down over time. To ensure
that a leak will not form from your skylight, make sure that your
weatherstripping is in good condition.
While you are checking your skylight's
weatherstripping, it can be worthwhile to check all of your windows and doors
to keep your home weatherproofed. Use this information about the importance of weatherstripping.
Add New
Sealants
Along your chimney, vents, skylights, and
other ducts, there should be sealant on the edge where it touches the roof.
This sealant helps prevent any rainwater from entering into the roof. If the
sealant becomes damaged or wears down over time, it can allow water to come in
and infiltrate your roof. While this leak can start small, it can create
extensive water damage if left unattended over time. To ensure that you are not
risking a leak from occurring, ask your roofing contractor to inspect the
sealant closely.
Install
De-icing Cables
If you live in a climate that experiences snow
and ice during the winter, ice dams could form on your roof. Ice dams occur
when melting snow does not fully melt or fall off your roof and re-freezes on
your roof. Over the course of the winter, the ice dam can continue to grow
since there is the initial barrier preventing other melting snow from falling
off your roof. De-icing cables are insulated electric heating wires that emit
heat to prevent the melting snow from refreezing before it falls off the roof.
Ice dams can cause standing water and excess weight on your roof that can cause
leaks or your roof to cave in. To prevent this type of damage, contact a
roofing contractor to assist in installing de-icing cables for the winter.
Additional
Waterproof Coating
If you have wood shingles, you can add
additional waterproof costing to the top if they are beginning to show signs of
wear and tear but are not at the point of needing to be replaced. The waterproofing compound comes in a spray, roll, and brushing option to be applied directly on
top of the shingles. There are both oil-based and water-based waterproofing
compounds. While the oil-based compound will last longer, the water-based
compound is more environmentally friendly.
Instead of attempting to apply this waterproof
compound by yourself, enlist the help of an experienced roofer who is trained
to safely move around on your roof.
Upgrade
Your Shingles
Your shingles are the first line of defense
against the outdoor elements. If there is any damage done to your shingles,
they can easily allow a leak to start. When a leak goes untreated for an
extended period of time, mold, mildew, and rot can occur, drastically
increasing repair costs.
While you should keep an eye out for any
shingles that are missing or seem to have damage, have a roofing contractor
perform a full inspection on top of your roof to make sure none of your
shingles are compromised. If any of your shingles are missing or damaged, have
them repaired as soon as possible.
If a majority of your shingles are damaged,
you need to consider a total roof replacement.
Waterproof
Roofing Underlayment
If you are considering replacing your roof,
there are roofing materials you can choose to weatherproof your home. One of
these materials is waterproof roofing underlayment. This underlayment is also
known as Ice and Water Barrier. The underlayment is applied directly to the
roof decking to protect your home from leaks in the event that your shingles
experience any damage or ice dams form in the winter.
Replacing your roof gives you the opportunity
to choose high-quality roofing materials. Learn more about upgrading your roof with durable materials.
Check
For Shingle Damage After A Storm
After each storm, check your roof for shingle
damage. Rain, wind, and hail can cause severe damage to your shingles if the
storm is strong enough. Checking for any shingle damage immediately after a
storm can prevent damage from being left unattended. The quicker you can
intervene, the less extensive the damage can become. If you have steep pitches
or it is difficult to see a majority of your roof from the ground, schedule a
roofing inspection to have a roofing contractor take a closer look for hard-to-see damage.
One way to ensure your roof is weatherproofed
for every season is by participating in Roof It Forward's Roof Maintenance
program. This program provides you access to our trained technicians to
evaluate your roof and make sure it is in great shape for every season. Learn
more about our Roof Maintenance package here.
Weatherproof your roof with the help of Roof
It Forward. Schedule a free video roofing inspection with ARAC Roof It Forward
so our team can diagnose potential problems and find solutions quickly. After
the examination, we will show you any concerning areas of your roof, review
your repair options, and provide a cost estimate. Schedule your free video
inspection with Roof It Forward today.
