Springtime Improvements: Winter Roof Readiness

I know, I know: it's spring and the final vestiges of winter snow have finally finished melting off the roof. The last thing you want to do is think of cold weather again, right? Wrong! As you make your list of springtime home improvements, now is the perfect time to take advantage of warm temperatures and make those changes that will help your roof handle next winter's inevitable assault on your home and property. Here are some things you can do right now to help you face the next cold season with confidence.

Replace missing shingles or get a new roof altogether: Missing shingles allow spring and summer rains to leak through to the attic which could damage your underlying structure and drywall. It also invites dangerous mold growth. If you are uncomfortable climbing ladders and doing the work yourself, hire a roofing contractor to handle the job.

Add more insulation to your attic: Keep warm air in and cold air out next winter by adding an extra layer of insulation to your attic. It's a relatively inexpensive step that will make a huge difference to your winter utility bills. Keep in mind, however, that adding insulation does very little to help prevent the development of ice dams on your roof. It will keep the inside of the roof cooler, but will do nothing to prevent snow melt due to solar radiation which can then refreeze and form ice dams.

Take active steps to prevent ice dams: If you are regularly plagued by these dangerous formations during the winter months, now is the time to eradicate them for good. Usual methods such as shoveling the roof, using snow melt, and chipping away at rooftop ice are not only dangerous, they're incredibly ineffective. If you live in an area that gets very little snow at one time, then heating cables may do the trick. For harsher winter locations, a heated panel system along the eaves will stop dam formation before it gets a chance to start.

By: Carolyn Ethington

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No one wants to think about snow once the weather warms up: but smart homeowners will use warm weather conditions to their advantage by making the repairs and improvements to their roofs NOW. Spring is the perfect time to get rid of the possibilities of leaky roofs and ice dams forever. For more information about the ice dams & rooftop de-icing products visit our website now!