Your roof is one of the, if not the most important aspect of your entire home’s exterior weather defense system. Roofs are able to withstand a lot of damage, and continuously protect you from the exterior elements. However, they are not invincible, and can easily be damaged if not properly maintained. This is especially true for the winter months, as they are extra difficult on your roof. This article will help you to further understand why properly maintaining your roof is so important, what exactly makes the winter season so detrimental to your roof, and why you should choose Northkit Roofing to help prepare your roof for the not too distant winter months.
Why Is Maintaining Your Roof So Important?
Many people do not realize just how important of a role your roof plays in keeping yourself and your loved ones safe. A roof has many important functions and many components that all must work together in order for it to function properly. If your roof sustains damage and you do not take care of the issue right away, there are many unpleasant results that you may have to endure. In this section, we will highlight some of the more serious issues that can arise as a result of a poorly maintained roof, and they are as follows:
- Dry Rot- This is a common issue that we see when there is too much moisture inside someone’s attic, or when they have a roof leak that is allowing water to fall onto exposed wood. It is a type of fungus that eats away at the components of wood that give it its structural integrity. Wood that is suffering from dry rot becomes very brittle, so much so that you can pull it apart with your hands. This becomes a major issue when dry rot starts to take over your ceiling joists or any structural wooden support, as it can result in cave-ins or weak spots on your roof.
- Mold Growth- Another common issue we see is the growth of a mold within your home, specifically black mold. When you have a leak in your roof it can allow water to seep in between your walls. Once water is in your walls it has no place to evaporate and just becomes stuck there. These are the perfect conditions for black mold to grow as it needs moisture and a firm surface to grow on, like the interior of your wall. Black mold can become extremely dangerous for yourself, your family members, and any living creatures you have in the house. If it is inhaled or ingested in any way it can cause severe intestinal and respiratory issues. If you notice any black spots along with your ceiling or walls please contact a professional immediately to assess it and make sure that it is not black mold.
- Increased Energy Bills- A common sign that you may have issues with your roofing system is a sudden increase in your energy bills. As the weather gets colder you will be utilizing your home’s heating system to keep yourself warm. If you notice that your house is having trouble staying at a nice warm temperature, Or that your energy bills have suddenly increased, this is a good indicator that your roof is not properly insulating your home. Ideally, your roof should help to ventilate your home and insulate the heat keeping it warm during the winter months and cool during the summer months.
- Insect and Rodent Intrusion- Your roof does more than just stop water from getting into your home, it also prevents insects and rodents from entering as well. If you have a hole in your shingles, or in your facia board (another aspect of your roofing system) insects and rodents such as spiders, bats, squirrels, termites, and rats can find their way into your home and start to cause damage.
- Electrical Damage- When you have a hole in your roof and water enters the interior of your home it can cause severe electrical damage. This can be a much larger problem than just flickering lights since water is a conductor of electricity. There have been reported incidents where a leaky pipe or roof letting water drip onto a slightly exposed wire. This causes the wire to short, emitting a spark which then catches any flammable material around it to set on fire. Far too many people have lost their entire homes for something that was entirely preventable by just having their roofs properly inspected.
Winter Weather Vs. Your Roof:
Winter is the worst time for your roof for many reasons. If you have an asphalt shingle roof, as most of the population does, your shingles get hard and brittle when the weather is cold. During most snowstorms, there are strong winds. These winds, paired with the brittle shingles often result in a lot of roof damage. Aside from the strong winds, there is also the threat of roof cave-ins, due to the added weight of piled snow on your roof. If your roof has not been properly ventilated and moisture is causing dry rot to form on your joists, they are already structurally compromised. If you pair this with the significant amount of weight that a dense snowfall can add to your roof, it very well can result in an unfortunate roof cave-in. Even more common than that however is the damage that ice can do to your roof. When your roof has snow on it and you have your heat on, heat tends to rise and tends to melt the snow through your roof. This no within turns into the water which can leak into any small cracks or seams exposed in your shingles. Eventually, this water will freeze and turn into ice. When water freezes into ice it expands, which will, in turn, make your shingles diss compromised and loose. A combination of all of these factors, along with some others results in far too many roof damages throughout the winter season.
Why Should You Choose Northkit Roofing To Help You Prepare Your Roof For This Winter Season?
With all things considered, hiring a professional roofing contractor to come and make sure your roof is in prime condition for the upcoming winter season is essential. Here at Northkit Roofing, we do this by offering all of our client’s free roof inspections. These inspections cost nothing but the time it takes you to call and schedule an appointment with us. When we arrive at your home, we will perform a thorough multi-step inspection to ensure that every aspect of your roofing system is working the way it should be, such as your shingles, rafters, soffits, ridge fence, insulation, gutters, and much more. If we do find any damage, we will be sure to properly document everything and accompany any notes that we make with images so you are able to see exactly what we are referencing. We will then work closely with you and your insurance company (if applicable) to quickly and effectively repair any damages that we have found. We have a lot of experience fixing roofs in the Cedar Grove, New Jersey area and have quickly become one of the most reputable and trusted roofing companies around! If you have any questions, reach out to our team, and we will do our best to assist you!
