A lot of maintenance work should happen before the snow starts to fall. However, you can still take care of your home throughout the winter if you want to cut down on the number of repairs you’ll need to make in the spring. Today, look at the steps you can take to keep your roof together and well-kempt all season long.
Handle the Snow
Snow can be helpful to have on your roof. It provides a barrier from the outside and an extra layer of insulation as it layers over your home. However, you can check for indicators of air leakage through your roof by looking for places the snow has melted faster than the rest. If you see bare spots, check the insulation in that area: the heat may be escaping.
Conversely, snow can also build up too much throughout the winter and cause your roof to break down in some places. Heavy and wet snow can get too heavy for the supports to comfortably support, which could lead to a cave-in if you don’t take care of it. If you think your roof has too much snow on it, take a snow rake or shovel with a long handle and remove what you can without climbing onto the roof.
Trim the Trees
If you haven’t already taken care of your overhanging tree branches, you need to handle them as soon as possible. Any boughs that spread over your house can lead to damage, whether the snow weighs them down to poke between the shingles or they break entirely and fall onto the roof.
To avoid any problems from the trees near your house, make sure to trim back your branches or have a professional trim them for you. That way, you know exactly when and where they’ll fall, and you or the trimmer can control the situation, keeping your roof and everyone under it safe from any surprises.
Clean the Gutters
You should have cleared most of the blockage in your gutters before the first snowfall, but you’ll also need to keep them clear throughout the winter. Don’t let ice or snow build up, or it could leak into your attic space, rotting the roof and insulation along the way. The freeze-thaw cycles allow too much possibility for trouble, so take care of it before you have to deal with the consequences.
If you don’t want to clear the ice from the gutters after every storm, you could add a heat cable into the available space before the snow falls. The warmth will keep any precipitation from freezing over, allowing the gutters and drains to continue working as they should and saving you a little maintenance. You should still check occasionally for twigs and debris that could get caught in the gutters, though.
Control the Airflow
You’ll need some ventilation from your attic to keep ice dams from building, so roof vents should be a significant concern. Make sure the vents stay clear: don’t let insulation block them from the inside or snow from the outside. If necessary, add more roof vents to increase the airflow. Insulation is still crucial to keep your house warm, so make sure you have enough to prevent heat from escaping.
Does your roof need repairs or a complete overhaul? Ray’s Harford Home Improvement Contractors Inc. is ready and willing to make it happen, no matter what time of year. As an established contracting company in Harford County, we have the experience and expertise to take care of any roofing problems. Get in touch today to see how Ray’s Harford Home Improvement Contractors Inc. can help you.
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A lot of maintenance work should happen before the snow starts to fall. However, you can still take care of your home throughout the winter if you want to cut down on the number of repairs you’ll need to make in the spring. Today, look at the steps you can take to keep your roof together and well-kempt all season long.
