As fall turns into winter, many homeowners in the Pacific Northwest are starting to take measures to prepare their roofs for upcoming wet, windy weather. One of the most important tasks you can perform is to perform some simple roof and gutter maintenance that can prevent a disaster from occurring when you least expect it.
Climatologists in the Pacific Northwest are predicting a significant increase in chances of a “La Nina” weather event for the 2017-2018 winter season. The La Nina phenomenon brings colder and wetter than usual weather to Washington State. The intense winter snow, wind and wet weather can wreak havoc on a roof and cause a small problem to turn into a major one.
Here are a few preventative maintenance steps you can do to help protect your roof from the upcoming winter weather:
Clean Out Gutters
Cleaning your gutters is one of the less glamorous, but most important roof maintenance tasks that you can perform. As the months go by, your gutters can accumulate a massive amount of dirt, rotting and decaying leaves and fir needles. When a rain or snow event occurs, the debris can clog your gutters or downspouts, causing damage to your soffits, trim, siding and roof. As the debris gets wet, it retains the water weight and can cause your gutters to sag or completely pull loose.
Remove Debris from Roof
Your roof can collect dirt, leaves, needles and debris. This organic debris can retain moisture and could lead to mold or rot, which in turn will start to break down the roofing material.
Getting on a ladder and standing on your roof isn’t for the faint of heart. If you’re up for the challenge, we recommend using a leaf blower or broom and sweep the debris down to the ground. Pay special attention to the valleys of your roof where debris/rot collects. The valleys help the water flow off your roof and should be completely debris-free.
Damage Inspection
After you’ve properly cleaned your roof and gutters, it’s now time for a visual inspection. Look for missing shingles, or ones that have frayed edges or cracks in them. If you have a chimney or vent stack look for damaged flashing. If you are hesitant to climb your roof to perform an inspection, we recommend recruiting the help of a local roofing expert.
Fix Small Leaks Immediately
If you find a small leak, it’s important that you have it fixed as soon as possible. The longer the leak remains, the more damage that will occur. As time goes by the damage (and cost to repair the damage) will increase exponentially. If you are the do-it-yourself type, you should be aware that going to the home improvement store and buying supplies to fix damaged shingles or flashing can result in making the problem worse. How do you know for sure that the DIY patch job fixed the problem? Would you be willing to bet the longevity of your roof on a DIY patch job?
If this is your first time fixing a roof or you’re just trying to save a few bucks, it’s probably best that you call a qualified roofer to handle the job. A professional roofer not only has the experience and know-how, but they will give you peace of mind to ensure the leak is fixed properly.
Schedule a Roof Inspection in Tacoma or Puyallup
There’s only so much you as a homeowner can do to prepare your roof for winter. While the above maintenance tasks are very important, there are other signs of damage that an untrained eye might not pick up on. The last thing anyone wants is a massive roof repair bill due to damage sustained in the 2017-2018 winter season.
Recruit the help of our team at ACME Roofing to perform a comprehensive roof inspection. This is the best way to ensure the safety and quality of your roof. For a small fee, an experienced and qualified roofer will carefully inspect your roof and let you know if they found any problems or potential issues that could arise in the near future. If you reside in the Puyallup, Tacoma, Gig Harbor, or South Sound area, give us a call at (253) 564-2292 to schedule an inspection this winter.