Is your roof ready for winter temperatures? If you have existing roof problems, snow and ice that comes with colder temperatures can spell disaster for your roof. Roofing companies in Alpharetta recommend that all homeowners winter-proof their roofs to save money and encourage longevity. In this post, you’ll discover tips and benefits of winterizing your roof.
Winterize for Leak Protection
Rainfall might be limited during the winter, but that doesn’t mean that your roof isn’t susceptible to water damage. If the roof is missing shingles or has sagging gutters, this presents opportunities for moisture to form. All it takes is a passing snow or ice storm to cause serious problems. Before winter settles in for a long stay, contact your local roofing company in Alpharetta to schedule a roof inspection.
Winterize to Save Money
Most expensive roofing problems happen as the result of ignoring small problems. Unless there is a major weather event, most roofs don’t fail completely, especially when your roof isn’t that old. The majority of homes that experience serious roof problems during the winter had existing problems that they either ignored or didn’t know they had in the first place. It doesn’t take much snow or to put pressure on a damaged roof and cause leaks or parts to cave in. When the latter happens, you have a costly problem on your hands.
Taking care of small problems is always the cheaper option. Common problems that start off small and get out of hand when they go un-repaired include the following:
- Missing shingles
- Damaged flashing
- Insufficient sealing between chimneys, vents, and skylights
- Visible underlayment
The best way to prevent unexpected roof replacement in Alpharetta is to make minor repairs when problems pop up.
Winterizing Reduces Your Heating Bill
Have you noticed your heating bill rising steadily as winter approaches? While it’s not unusual to have a higher electric or gas bill during the winter, you could be paying more than you need to. When people think about winterizing their roof, they often think about some of the things we just talked about. However, there’s another aspect to winterization that’s below your roof—your attic.
Attics that aren’t properly insulated release a lot of heat. Remember when your parents told you they weren’t heating the whole neighborhood when you left a door open during the winter? Well, if you don’t have the right insulation in your attic, that’s exactly what you’re doing. You’re spending money on heat that isn’t doing you any good.
If you’re not sure that your attic’s well-insulated, contact area roofing contractors in Alpharetta to come out and take a look. These professionals will make recommendations for improving your attic’s insulation to reduce your energy costs.
Winterizing Protects Your Gutters
If you have sagging gutters, you have a damaged roof system. Most people don’t realize that the state of their gutters have a direct impact on how well their roof performs. Throughout the year, gutters collect leaves, sticks, and act as safe hideaways for critters like squirrels and mice. When you don’t clean out your gutters, snow and ice build-up during the winter weigh them down and cause them to come loose from the roof. Before winter gets well underway clean out and inspect your gutters.
Also, keep in mind that winter is the worst time to need a roof replacement. If you think you need a new roof, contact Superior Roofing Company of Georgia for a roofing estimate in Alpharetta right away.