No one likes to have a roof leak. But often, by the time a leak shows up in an obvious place, a considerable amount of damage has been done. Sometimes this can’t be avoided because roof leaks show up in unexpected places. There are times however, when catching a leak in it’s early stages can help avoid a lot of headache…and roof repair.
The title of this post isn’t necessarily meant to imply that there is some magic in checking for roof leaks during winter. Instead, it’s supposed to serve as a reminder that during winter, it’s good to keep an eye out for roof leaks, because conditions lend a little more to new leaks developing during this time.
Mild Winters Are Still Wet
In winter, the weather is unpredictable. This winter in the Midwest, it’s been unseasonably warm. Rain has sometimes replaced several inches of snow. Also freezing rain has latched itself to many homes. When temperatures are frequently changing, the little snow that does fall melts quickly. Sometimes this water easily penetrates joints in roof valleys, near windows and along flashings. Sometimes debris are moved around more easily and lodge themselves in places where they prevent drainage.
Keep An Eye on Roof and Wall Surfaces
One of the most simple things homeowners should do is to simply keep an eye on their roof as they enter and leave the home, or as they are driving by. Look up on the roof to see if water is running as it should be. If you notice any puddles, or blocked areas, it may be time to call a roofing contractor to go up and have a better look, or do some cleaning.
It’s a good idea to keep an eye out around windows and openings for any moisture that’s not supposed to be there. Sometimes moisture comes as the result of condensation in the winter to wall and ceiling surfaces, so it’ll disappear soon. Other times it’s important to follow it to the source, so more extensive damage can be avoided.
The source of a leak is sometimes difficult to locate. A roofing contractor who has experience tracking down pesky leaks is probably one of your best friends at this time. Of course if you live in Indiana, Michigan or Ohio, the roofing professionals at www.SherriffGoslin.com are willing to stop by any time to have a look – for no charge.
Have you recently repaired a leak in your roof?
Have you ever had a leak that was difficult to find?
Are you less inclined or more inclined in the winter to keep an eye on home maintenance issues such as roof leaks?
There’s lots of interest out there right now in saving energy. Homeowners are constantly hit up with messages about ways to save energy. The motivation is sometimes financial (save $) and sometimes responsible (save the planet). Homeowners have differing levels of motivation in each of these areas. For residential roofing, questions often arise as to whether there are ways to make a roof more energy efficient and whether these are cost effective, i.e. is there good justification to implement them?
In residential roofing most energy savings questions surround reducing the cost of cooling; i.e. keeping the roof temperature down so less A/C is required. That’s because cooling is more expensive than heating, and summer daylight hours are generally longer than winter hours, so in most US homes the intrusion of additional heat when cooling is needed is a bigger issue than penetration of cold in the winter.
Even though there’s a big focus placed on all things energy-wise, it seems the residential roof may not be viewed by most homeowners as the top priority for bringing into line with the latest energy saving trends. This is evident by continued use of dark-colored asphalt shingles as well as the lack of metal roofing and other non-traditional materials. It may be that appearance trumps performance when it comes to energy related roofing issues.
Performance however, actually is the other factor that keeps traditional roofing materials busy in covering most homes. The primary purpose of the residential roof is to protect the inside of the home as well as some other exterior surfaces from the elements. There really is no solution for a residential roof that equals the overall performance of asphalt shingles for cost of ownership, value, durability, longevity, simplicity of installation and appearance.
In some climates and in some homes, attempts at energy efficient roofing produce cost savings that are negligible due to other construction factors and to climate temperatures themselves. For other contexts cooling measures to increase efficiency deliver reported cost savings of 7-15%.
Have you made improvements to your residential roof that have resulted in lower energy costs? What are some of the improvements you’ve made?
Do you know of other roof-related measures that can help to reduce energy costs?
How important is it for you to build energy-efficient measures into your home?
Can You ReRoof a Home in the Winter?
A lot of people ask whether it’s OK to reroof their home in the winter? The answer really comes down to a combination of factors which may or may not permit the homeowner to wait until warmer weather. One of the most important issues to clear up first, is whether asphalt shingles themselves can actually be installed in the winter.
Asphalt shingles can take it.
It’s important to note that asphalt shingles actually CAN be installed in the winter. In most cases they aren’t too frozen or brittle. There are actually some shingles in extreme northern climates such as Canada and Alaska that are made for colder weather such as -20° C. Remember also that asphalt shingles are made to protect your home in winter during colder weather so it stands to reason that the risk for installing them in cold weather should be low.
There are legitimate concerns about the seal strip and whether the shingles will seal in the cold. Remember, it’s almost always warmer on the roof to begin with. Underneath the roof deck there is usually warm air moving around in the attic and on the roof’s surface the sun is warming up the roofing materials during daylight. It can be as much as 10-20 degrees warmer on the roof, and all that is needed is a warm winter day for the shingles to adhere to the seal strip.
If there is no such warm winter day in sight but high winds or extreme weather are anticipated, the roofing contractor will place quarter-sized dabs of roof cement underneath the corners of the shingle tabs while installing them, to ensure wind doesn’t get underneath them while waiting for them to seal. With some heavier laminated dimensional shingles, securing their tabs with cement isn’t even necessary as they’ll lay fine until they have the opportunity to seal.
What about YOUR home?
Considering the asphalt shingle’s ability to seal itself, the real question isn’t whether a home can be re-roofed in the winter, but should YOUR home be re-roofed in the winter? This question of course is best answered after a thorough inspection of your shingles, flashings, roof deck and other roof components – even those that may not show signs of weather penetration. The best inspection is performed by a trusted, experienced roofing contractor.
If there are urgent issues such as leaks or penetration of snow, ice, animals, vegetation, falling off and broken shingles or other common problems, it may be time to carve out one or two days of favorable weather and get busy on the new roof.
Even if there’s no urgency, winter may be a good time to roof your home. Contractors actually enjoy cooler days and may be anxious to get busy on your project. Your roofing material dealer might also be running an off-season special on your shingles.
Contractors – Do you have winter roofing experiences?
What are other concerns, if any; you’ve heard from homeowners about winter roofing?
Homeowners – Have you had a successful roof installation in the winter?
Are you thinking right now it might be time to install a new roof?
Do you have reservations about winter roofing?
Preparing Your Roof for Winter
It’s that time of year again, when Midwesterners get ready to endure the cold, fight some snow and even begin and end the workday in the dark. If you’re not from our area in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan this may not be exactly your experience, but plenty of readers in North America get in on winter’s blasts. Some are used to making preparation, others approach preparation on an “as needed” basis. Since this is a roofing blog, we should talk at least a little as to whether there are necessary preparations for your residential roof to ensure it’s ready to take on the frozen months ahead.
A Well-Made Roof Should Already be Prepared
It’s true, the whole point of a residential roof is to take on the weather. Some of us in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan winterize our cars, our storm windows and our lake cottage plumbing; but when it comes to the roof, if it’s installed carefully and correctly using the appropriate materials and systems for our geographical region, there should be little you can ad to make it “winter-ready.” It probably already is. It’s not a bad idea though, to give it a quick once-over to make sure it stays that way.
Look Over Your Roof from the Ground
This sounds simple but nothing helps more and is quite so simple as having a quick look. We know looking up at your roof is rarely the first thing on your mind while brushing their teeth in the morning, but if you get in the habit of looking up once in a while, you might avoid a headache or two.
It’s easy for a tree branch to get caught underneath a shingle tab or for debris to end up in a roof valley. Add a little snow and ice to this scenario and you can end up with moisture where it shouldn’t be and more loose shingles. Removing debris and keeping your roof clean is one of the easiest things you can do to prepare for any season.
Check Ventilation
As winter comes on it’s also important to make sure you have adequate ventilation in the attic so the space below your roof deck maintains a consistent temperature. Your home is designed with soffit, eave, ridge and gable vent systems to make sure air is flowing as it should be. Make sure vents are not blocked and air is free to move through these areas unobstructed. One of the main causes of failure of snow to melt, or snow melting too rapidly causing water build-up, leaks or ice dams, has to do with roof temperatures underneath the deck which are affected by ventilation.
If you’ve had repeated problems with ice dams at your roof edges near gutters, soffits and other obstructions, it may be best to have a roofing contractor take a look at your components. You may need to make changes or provide additional capabilities or air to flow or obstructions to flow away.
Schedule a Roof Inspection
It also goes without saying that if your roof is very old or badly worn, you may want to replace it quickly before the bad weather arrives. Even one extreme weather season with an excessively worn roof can spell problems for decking, leaks to insulation and interior ceilings or walls. Get it checked! Call a qualified roofing contractor and schedule a visit to evaluate your roof’s overall condition.
Do you typically see anything unusual on your roof during the winter months?
Do you have a regular routine in preparing your home for winter that involves checking your roof?
Are there other roof-related factors that a homeowner should be aware of to prepare for winter months in the Midwest?
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