A Plus Roofing & Construction, LLC

As winter approaches, it’s quite common for most homeowners
to get caught up in the holiday spirit and forget about home maintenance.
However, whether you’re prepared for it or not, the ice dams and snow that
accompany this cold season will soon be settling on your roof. This is why it’s
very important to ensure that your roof is prepared for such a task.

This way, you’ll protect your home from possible damage and ensure
that your household has a warm and comfortable environment despite the
extremely low temperatures outsides. Here are some things you need to do to get
your roof through winter:

Get Your Roof Inspected

Before winter makes your roof unsafe and unworkable, it is
very important that you schedule a roof inspection with a reputed roofing
company. The roofing company will be able to assess your roof for any
weaknesses so that they can make relevant recommendations. The best thing about
conducting a proper roof inspection is that you can identify any roof problems
and fix them in good time before they develop into bigger problems.

In general, roof inspections are basically smart investments
that you make in order to save you money on repairs and replacements down the
road. The best time to get your roof inspected is in the fall because roofing
professionals are usually less busy, and the install temperatures are
conducive.

However, don’t do it too late in the season, as you want to
have enough time to fix all roofing problems before ice dams start forming.

Clean Out All Debris

Over the months, your roof is likely to come in contact with
all kinds of debris, including leaves, tennis balls, bird nests, fallen tree
limbs, bird droppings, and even dust. Many homeowners assume that leaving such
things on the roof doesn’t affect anything, but that’s quite a costly
assumption to make.

Remember, it’s always better to prevent damage when you can
rather than dealing with costly repairs that you could have easily avoided.
Leaving debris to accumulate on your roof will end up compromising its integrity.
This is because such debris traps water on the roof, thus facilitating mold and
fungus growth.

This contributes to roof decay and leakages. Therefore, you
need to ensure that you inspect your roof regularly for any debris and clear it
all before it ends up damaging your roof. However, this can be quite a
dangerous task for many homeowners, which is why you should consider hiring an
experienced roofer to do the job for you.

Clean Out the Gutters

As a homeowner, you need to understand that the roof isn’t
the only place that collects debris. Due to their design, gutters are also
prone to holding all kinds of debris. Gutters are a very important component of
the house as they’re responsible for collecting rainwater and directing it away
from the roof and your house.

Therefore, having a good gutter system prevents water from damaging
your home’s foundation and surroundings. On the other hand, having a poor
gutter system can simply spell doom for your entire home. For this reason,
while you’re preparing your home for winter, ensure that you take your time to
inspect the gutters and remove all debris you might find.

While getting rid of debris on your gutters, do not forget
to look for holes and cracks, as they can easily cause major problems for your
house. After cleaning the gutters, ensure that your run some water through them
to test for any leakages and blockages. While inspecting your gutter system,
you also need to verify whether it’s securely in place.

This is because if the gutter system is loose, it means that
it won’t be able to hold water and snow properly when winter comes.
Consequently, it will be impossible for it to direct the water away from your
home’s structure and foundation. Securing the gutter system before winter
begins will help you avoid such problems.

If you don’t know how to clean your gutters by yourself, you
can always hire a professional roofer to do it for you.

Check Attic Insulation

With winter approaching, it is about to get extremely cold.
The best way you and your entire household can stay warm, safe and save money
on utility expenses is by having proper attic insulation and ventilation.
Understandably, not all homeowners are fond of going up in the attic. However,
you need to pay close attention to this part of your home because it leaks more
active during winter.

With a thorough attic inspection, you’ll ensure that your
roof is in the best condition possible before winter starts. During the attic
inspection, ensure that the insulation is evenly distributed as it is
responsible for preserving heat and keeping your household warm. If the attic isn’t
evenly insulated, heat will escape the house and lead to formation of ice dams.

These ice dams can easily damage your roof and home’s
structure. To avoid such problems, you need to hire a roofing professional to
verify whether your attic insulation is evenly distributed throughout the top
floor. The roofing professional will let you know whether your attic insulation
requires replacement and also make recommendations about installing ice and
water protectors.

Pay Attention to Nearby Trees

As you might have learned by now, trees are responsible for
most of the debris on top of your roof. Therefore, it’s only right that you pay
attention to nearby trees, especially those with overhanging branches, before
winter starts. Ensure that you trim all the trees with branches hanging over
your roof.

This is because, with time, these branches become heavy and
could end up breaking your roof. To be completely safe during winter, you might
even consider getting rid of these trees altogether.

Summing Up

Are you looking for a reliable roofing contractor in
Northern Delaware? Contact us today at A Plus Roofing & Construction, LLC,
and let our experienced and qualified team take care of all your residential
and commercial roofing needs.