Winter is coming, so it’s critical for you to get your home ready for those colder temperatures. While most people are thinking about insulating pipes and sealing windows, there’s another winterization task that many homeowners overlook. You need to get your Charlotte, NC home’s roof ready.
The roof helps to protect your home from the harsh winter conditions that occur here. This includes frigid days with freezing rain and snow. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to have your roof in the best shape possible. The roofers with Blue Fox Roofing & Renovations are ready to help get your roof ready for winter weather.
Why Should You Winterize the Roof?
Winterizing your roof helps to protect against the temperature extremes that can occur. It’s not unheard of to wear shorts in the morning and need a coat by the evening. Those temperature fluctuations can affect the roof.
Even in milder temperatures, cold rain and occasional snow can damage the roof. The freeze-thaw cycle is one particular problem that requires preventative action. It can allow water to seep into cracks. The water will expand when it freezes, which causes the crack to worsen.
By allowing our professionals to winterize your roof, you can protect against problems, such as:
- Water damage
- Wind damage
- Ice dams
- Structural damage
Ice dams occur when snow on the roof begins to melt and then refreezes. This can cause blockages that lead to water backing up under the shingles. Heavy snow or ice accumulation can add significant weight to the roof, which can lead to structural strain and eventually damage.
Hiring a professional to handle roof winterization can mitigate those problems so they don’t bring problematic damage to your home. There are several things our roofers check when they winterize your home.
What Happens During a Roof Winterization?
A roof winterization project starts with a complete inspection of the roof. This is our chance to find out what problems we need to prioritize. These are often things that aren’t noticeable to the untrained eye. Because our professionals get on the roof to see exactly what’s going on, they don’t miss things that aren’t visible from the ground. They take the time to ensure your roof is fully ready for the variable winter weather in our area.
We check various aspects of your roof during winterization.
Shingles
The condition of shingles is critical, as cracking, curling, or missing shingles can allow moisture to penetrate the roof. Our roofers look for signs of wear and tear, loose shingles, or any that are already damaged. It’s sometimes possible to replace only the shingles that have problems, but a full roof replacement might be necessary if the majority of the roof is worn.
Gutters and Downspouts
The roof’s drainage system plays a significant role in preventing water buildup. We inspect the gutters for clogs, damage, or improper pitch. Those problems can hinder water flow and lead to ice dams. Removing clogs, repositioning the gutters and downspouts for optimal flow, and sealing any cracks can help to prevent issues this winter.
Flashing
Flashing around chimneys, vents, and skylights is susceptible to leaks, especially if the caulking is eroding due to natural conditions. Our experienced roofers will check for gaps, cracks, or corrosion and ensure all flashing is secure and provides the protection your home needs. Flashing that’s wearing down may need replacement, but sealing around flashing that’s still in good condition is often possible.
Attic Ventilation and Insulation
Proper attic ventilation helps maintain a consistent roof temperature, reducing the risk of ice dams. Our roofers will check the ventilation system and insulation to ensure they are adequate for winter weather.
We may recommend adding more insulation to the attic. Some homeowners don’t realize that insulation degrades over time, so their homes don’t have the full insulation that they believe it has. Adding more insulation to the attic can help to prevent ice damage, and it can help you to keep heating costs under control.
If there are problems with any of these areas, we’ll discuss them with you. We let you know the options to correct the problem. Then, we get it done so you won’t have to worry about them over the winter months.
What Else May Occur in a Roof Winterization?
In some cases, our roofers may opt to apply a roof coating over the shingles to help with winterization. This provides an extra layer of protection between nature’s elements and the shingles. It can stop moisture, UV rays, and temperature fluctuations from damaging the roof’s shingles. This is especially helpful in areas where snow is likely because most homes will have piles of snow that sit on their roofs for long periods.
Roof coatings are ideal for flat and low-slope roofs because moisture may accumulate on those. The coating is made of silicone or an elastomeric material. These are waterproof and allow for a seamless barrier with proper application.
This is particularly important in high-accumulation areas, such as around chimneys and vents because water can damage those structures. Typically, water damage to those roofing features isn’t noticed until it’s so bad that it needs to be replaced. Having a roof coating can prevent that costly damage from occurring.
Our roofers may also talk to you about installing special ice dam barriers if your home is particularly prone to collecting ice. This is the case if ice dams have occurred in previous winters or if your home is older.
Are There Any Other Suggestions for Protecting My Home This Winter?
During ice storms, freezing rain, windy conditions, and wet snow, tree branches can become heavy and sag. If the branches are near your roof, they can fall on the roof if they snap. Even if they don’t snap, they may still rub on the roof, which can damage the shingles or the materials beneath the shingles.
Because of the risk of damage to your roof that can occur in those cases, our roofers may recommend trimming those tree branches. While this isn’t directly a roofing winterization task, it can help tremendously with keeping the roof safe over the winter.
Why Should You Hire a Professional Roofer?
Roof winterization may sound like an easy enough job to do yourself, but there are many variables that can change what needs to happen. Hiring one of our roofers to complete the job means that you’re getting someone who has years of experience.
Since 1994, the team at Blue Fox Roofing & Renovations has been working with Charlotte area homeowners to ensure their roofing projects are done correctly. We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and have several Nextdoor Neighborhood Fave recognitions. Our team knows that we work hard to provide the highest level of service and workmanship. Contact us today to schedule your roofing winterization or any other roofing job you need us to perform. We provide roofing repair, installation, and roofing inspection services along with gutter and storm damage repair services.
