Protecting your home means more than just incorporating security measures to protect against intruders. It also means making your home more structurally secure to protect it against the elements.
A well-maintained roof is key to reducing the risk of damage caused by severe weather. Do you want to know more about protecting your home from the top down? These 5 essential roofing solutions for all seasons will help you get started.
Professional Inspections
When it comes to property damage, prevention is better than cure, and this is especially true for roofing. Regular roof maintenance is integral to extending your roof’s (and therefore your property as a whole) longevity.
One should regularly conduct inspections to identify small issues before they become big problems. Check for missing, cracked, or leaking roof tiles. Replace them as soon as possible. It’s cheaper to treat minor damage to specific roof sections now than replace the entire roof later because you allowed problems to escalate.
A well-maintained roof will stand the test of time, and withstand all seasons. Professional inspections and repairs by roofing experts like Wortham Brothers Roofing are your best bet for weather-proofing your roofing.
Weather-Resistant Shingles
There are various roof shingle styles, made from different materials, and they can withstand different conditions. For example, some offer good protection in moderate weather only. Others can handle severe impacts and are best in areas with frequent hail storms and other severe weather events.
Therefore, your choice depends on your location and local weather patterns. Websites like the Met Office give accurate and up-to-date weather information. They also issue severe weather warnings which help you plan for the best time to replace roof shingles.
Architectural shingles employ multiple layers with a thicker profile to offer enhanced protection. They are engineered to withstand various severe weather conditions. These include extreme temperatures, strong wind gusts, heavy rainfall and snow, and even hail.
They prevent or greatly reduce moisture infiltration, wind uplift, and thermal expansion and contraction of your roof tiles. This in turn lowers the risk of roof tile loss, flooding, dampness, and mold, which can all be expensive issues to resolve.
Attic Ventilation
An attic is prone to different problems caused by seasonal changes. Years of trapped summer heat can cause shingles to stiffen and crack, reducing their lifecycle. Meanwhile, years of winter weather conditions and exposure to excess moisture can result in mold growth and other problems. Attic ventilation can help.
But what exactly is attic ventilation, and how does it work to protect your home? Attic ventilation revolves around the movement of air. It can take two forms. There’s passive ventilation, which allows the natural flow of air through vents, and active ventilation, which moves air through mechanical systems like fans.
Proper attic ventilation requires a healthy balance between air intake and exhaust, and when you get it right, you’ll experience several benefits. It regulates the indoor temperature, reduces moisture and ice build-up, prevents mold, and ultimately supports the roof structure’s longevity.
Ice/Water Shields
Ice build-up and water penetration can cause havoc with your roofing. Worse still, if not treated, it can lead to problems with the entire house structure. That’s why water damage and rot risk are often cited as the main disadvantages of timber frame houses.
But there’s a solution — an ice and water shield. This is an adhered roof underlayment, a protective barrier that adheres to your roof.
An ice and water shield protects the valleys and edges of your roof that typically receive the most ice and water during a storm. It sits over the wood sheathing but under the shingles of your roof. This helps it to stay in place so it won’t shift during snowfall or blow away in the wind.
Gutter Protection
Your gutters do more than channel water away during heavy rainfall. Effective gutters prevent water staining on the property, erosion around the property, and especially, flooding that could enter the attic or basement and damage the structure or foundation.
Without a gutter system, your roof would be subject to excess water, rot, mold, and deterioration. Your roof shingles would weaken and eventually fail. Ensure that your gutters are in optimal condition. The simplest way to do this is to keep them free from debris.
Regular gutter cleaning not only prevents the clogged gutters that cause water buildup and -related damage. It can even prevent pest infestations by eliminating the conditions that attract common pests.
Foliage and other debris borne on the winds can clog the downspout of your gutters and impede water flow. Consider installing gutter guards. They are usually made of mesh and create a barrier between the roof and the gutters, allowing water in but keeping leaves and twigs out.
