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Winter-Proofing your Home
August 15th, 2013
The summer is a carefree time spent enjoying the outdoors. From barbecues to beach days, we don’t need to spend a lot of time worrying about harsh weather or its possible effects on our weekends, much less our homes. Then come winter, we realize how important it is to have access to a safe, secure, and comfortable home. As soon as it’s time to escape the weather, we learn the importance of preparing for it. One of the most important aspects of our homes when it comes to protecting us from the damaging effects of weather is our roof. Unfortunately, without regular inspections and maintenance, we can’t be sure that our roof is prepared to offer the protection we need. So, when it comes to winter-proofing your home, you should never underestimate the importance of roof repairs and maintenance.
Winter-Proofing your Roof
The most effective way to winter-proof your home involves a bit of foresight. You do not want to wait for the first big storm of the year to learn that your roof is damaged. As such, you should ensure to have your roof cleaned and inspected regularly, also making sure that gutters and downpipes are also inspected. In addition, your roof insulation should be regularly checked as well.
You may believe that winter rains are an effective method of cleaning your roof, but in fact they encourage the growth of fungi and algae while also causing the buildup of debris in gutters. Hire a professional roof maintenance company that can inspect your roof and offer the necessary repairs. Obviously, you will want to contact a number of potential roofers to ask for quotes and get references before you go forward with any maintenance or repairs.
Ideally, your professional maintenance crew will also clean and inspect your gutters, so be sure to ask about this when getting quotes. Clogged gutters and downpipes can cause significant damage to your home, as water backs up and may begin to cause deterioration in roofing materials and structures. If your home has many over-hanging trees, or your gutters require frequent cleaning, consider having a gutter protection system installed as this will prevent debris from clogging gutters.
Finally, you need to ensure that you have adequate roofing insulation. Should you notice that your house is too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter, your roofing insulation may be the key to the problem. By replacing poor insulation, you will benefit from affordable and effective improvements to your home’s energy efficiency. There are a variety of types of roofing insulation, so be sure to consult with a professional to determine the best kind of insulation for your home.
In addition to winter-proofing your roof, you can extend your efforts to other aspects of your home. For example, weather stripping will reduce heat loss at windows and doors. You may even want to consider investing in double-pane windows which are much more effective at keeping warmth in and cold out.
If you have any question about your roof, please contact Vancouver roofing company K2 Roofing.
