Ben's Construction Inc

With the winter season in full swing, a lot of homeowners are calling on their roofing contractor to conduct last-minute repairs, maintenance or even replacements, just to ensure that they’re ready when the cold comes. This is truly understandable since winter is one of the most taxing seasons for your roofing system. The cold weather in itself can cause old shingles to become brittle and even fall off. This could become worse, especially if it’s accompanied by moisture, which can lead to pooling water, ice dams and roof leaks, which will grow worse over time.

Not to mention, high winds also need to be taken into consideration since they can tear off roofing shingles completely. This goes to show how important it is to ensure that your residential roofing system is ready to handle the brunt of the winter season. However, this can be overwhelming to some homeowners, especially if they aren’t too familiar with their roofing system. Here’s how to check your roofing system.

Call for a Thorough Roof Inspection

Try to remember the last time you had a roofing inspection. Did you only call for it because you already knew your roof had existing problems? This shouldn’t be the case since your roof needs to be checked regularly for issues and for you to understand its true condition. It’s difficult to check your roof’s condition from the ground, and, even if you manage to get up on your roof, you might not even know what are the signs of damage to look out for on your system.

Remember that not all roofing issues are easily seen as some of them require the eyes of a trained roofer to see. In fact, some of these underlying problems can be the cause of severe roofing damage in the winter, such as roof leaks. Make sure that you have your roof inspected before the winter even starts.

This is because small leaks and weak points on your roof can make your home vulnerable to snow and ice. Even if it seems like a minor issue, it could gradually grow worse into serious issues like wood rotting, mold growth and other issues. Also, even if you think you can address these issues on your own, you should still contact your local professional roofer for assistance.

Ensure Your Attic Has Sufficient Insulation

You must ensure that you have enough insulation. It protects your living space from the snow and ice that is gathering on your roof during a cold winter night. Your roofer would tell you that attic insulation is essential since it prevents heat from traveling out of your home through your roof. In turn, this reduces the stress on your shingles and makes your living space more comfortable since it keeps heat inside when you need it the most. Having poor insulation during the winter season will make your home feel colder and less energy-efficient since you’ll have to ramp up your HVAC system even more just to keep the temperature in check.

Clear Trees and Other Roofing Hazards

Even if tree branches are a bit far from your roof, ice and snow can slowly pile up on them, and the wind can bring that snow onto your roof. Make sure that you have the nearby tree branches trimmed before winter to prevent this issue from occurring. It also helps if you have your gutters cleaned and inspected as well since dirt, debris and ice dams can form in this spot. This will also prevent water from accumulating and freezing, effectively protecting your roof and exterior from damage. Granted, this can be done on your own, but we recommend enlisting the help of a professional roofer to assist you with this matter since going up on your roof is dangerous in itself. Let alone clearing debris and stuff around it. You’re putting yourself at a higher risk of injury, especially without the proper equipment, which is why it’s better to leave this task to the professionals. 

Understand Your Equipment

Some home improvement stores might offer you spraying chemicals that are designed to “melt” snow accumulation, but these aren’t the ideal options for you to protect your home against winter damage. Instead, your best bet is to protect your roof and your home by having it inspected and repairing any issues ahead of time by calling your roof installation and repair contractor. However, there is some equipment that can help you further protect your roof. Here are some of them:

1. Snow guards: If you have a sloped roofing system, a snow guard can be a great addition to your home since it can help isolate snow and ice into one spot until it melts. This makes your home safer since sliding snow isn’t only damaging to your roof, but can also lead to accidents, such as slipping or falling. Investing in snow guards can prevent this issue.

2. Gutter guard: A gutter guard protects your rain gutters so that debris doesn’t accumulate inside them. This means that snow, dirt and debris won’t get into your gutters. However, you should still continuously clean your gutters and have them inspected to ensure that everything is in good working order.

Leave It to the Professionals

We strongly advise against doing roof repairs or any roofing jobs on your own, especially if you don’t have the proper tools and training to carry out the job properly. Aside from endangering yourself, you could damage your roof even more, leading to a costlier job down the line. Make sure that you leave your future roofing projects to the professionals at Ben’s Construction Inc! This decision can make all the difference in creating a cozy environment and having a cold home during the winter.

When you’re looking for a trusted roof installation contractor to take care of your needs, look no further than Ben’s Construction Inc! We’re a team of professional home improvement contractors that are known for our reliability for delivering quality workmanship, value and timely performance. It’s our mission to provide services that are tailored to our customer’s unique needs and requirements. Call us at (508) 962-2417, or fill out our quotation form for a free estimate. We have been proudly serving the Massachusetts area since 1999.