Roof Talk-101 L.E.A.F Winterizing Your Roof

Roof Talk-101  L.E.A.F  Winterizing Your Roof

It’s that time of the year again. The blistering heat is subsiding, and trees are changing colors. You can drink apple cider, go pumpkin picking, dress up for Halloween and do all of your favorite fall activities. However, this seemingly magical time can also be a huge headache for homeowners, as they worry about how the ensuing weather changes will affect their homes. It is no secret that rain, snow and frigid weather can really take their toll on your roofing system. Luckily, you can stand up to Old Man Winter if you take the necessary steps and prepare in advance. Since it is autumn when most homeowners start to get worried, you should remember the acronym L.E.A.F. This symbolizes the four major areas of which you should pay attention to in order to protect your roofing system: Leaky gutters, Excessive debris, Attic ventilation, and Flashing. Whether you hire a professional roofing contractor or you do it yourself, you should get in the habit of inspecting your roof twice a year. This is especially true for these four important factors listed above, so that you can catch any damage early and save yourself time and money in the long run.

Let’s Begin with Leaky Gutters

One area that is important to keep a vigilant eye on, especially with winter rapidly approaching, are leaky gutters. Autumn and winter are chockfull of rain and snow; and you will absolutely need healthy, well-running gutters if you want to avoid damage to your roofing system. Gutters allow pesky precipitation to drain from your roof. One thing you can do to ensure that your gutters are up to par is remove leaves, branches or other debris that may be clogging them. In addition to clearing debris, make sure that your gutters are securely fastened. Improper installation can lead to build up and overflow, which can affect your roofing system negatively. 

Free Your Roof of Excessive Debris

When you embark on spring-cleaning, you should not just focus on the interior of your home, but you should include your roofing system as well. When the weather is nice, it’s the perfect time to inspect your roof and make sure that the valleys and linings are free of twigs, branches, leaves, and other debris. Excessive debris, if ignored, can block rain and melted snow from exiting your roof, which adds an unhealthy amount of weight on top of your roof. This extra mass can lead to extensive damage, including leaks, deterioration and shingle damage. 

Assess Your Attic Ventilation Efficiency

As stated above, heavy snow and ice on your roof can cause damage to your roofing system. It can even warp your trusses and rafters, as well as inflate your heating bill costs. To combat this problem and save your roofing system, it is essential to install an attic ventilation system. This technique will help your attic circulate air in and out. Improved air circulation decreases the chance of snow and ice buildup, which minimizes potential damage, as well as your heating costs.

Don’t Forget about Flashing

Finally, when inspecting your roofing system in preparation for winter, you should pay special attention to flashing. Flashing is the structure used to protect the edges of your roof. It can also be seen on roof piping, chimneys and roofing vents. Flashing is very important because it is the main barrier standing between the under part of your roof and the outdoors. Unfortunately, your roof flashing can rip, tear and loosen, thanks to strong winds and substantial rain. If your flashing is damaged in any way, water can seep into your home and ruin ceilings, insulation, walls, and electrical work. Therefore, it is important to inspect your flashing before you have a huge problem. If you find any damage on your flashing, replace or fix it as soon as possible. It will cost you a lot less than it will to repair or replace your entire roofing system, which you will have to do if you let the damage get out of control.

You Can Now Start Winterizing Your Roof

In summary, it’s very important to inspect your roof in the spring and fall if you want to make sure it is working its best to defend against the brutal winter months. Regardless of whether you do the job yourself or hire a residential or commercial  roofing company, special attention should be given to four main areas – Leaky gutters, Excessive debris, Attic ventilation, and Flashing – which together make up the acronym L.E.A.F. If these four areas are taken care of in advance, chances are that you will have successfully winterized your roofing system. That should give you enough peace of mind to shake off the winter blues and enjoy all the wonderful things the winter season brings!

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