Design Elements That Will Help Protect Your Roof in Grand Rapids Michigan This Winter
During the winter months the roof on your home can really go through a lot. Roofing can take on a lot more during the cold weather than any other season and that is especially true for your home’s roofing in Grand Rapids Michigan. But, no matter where you live, roof maintenance is never fun. But during winter it can become much harder to take care of it and protect it from damage. To give your roof the best chance of holding up through winter, it is important to plan ahead and make sure you aren’t setting yourself up for problems. Here are some tips that can help.
Design Elements That Will Help Protect Your Roof in Grand Rapids Michigan This Winter
A roof leak is never a good thing no matter the weather or season. During winter however, locating and repairing the roof leak can be much more difficult. As ice and snow build up on the roof sometimes the roof leak will seem to appear and disappear as water freezes on the roof. Having an experienced roofing contractor who is local can usually better locate and repair these leaks. If your home has a roof leak that seems to go away, it’s likely just waiting and will start leaking again. It’s important to get any roof leaks on your home repaired quickly to prevent damage. Here are some tips that can help!
Keep It Simple
Some homeowners like to get creative with their architecture, including their roof, by incorporating interesting shapes and angles. But the more complicated you make your roof, the more likely it is to have problems. This is because of the valleys created by more complex roof designs and seams where different parts meet. While you can incorporate flashing to this area to help protect it, you will always be more prone to problems that simple roof designs. They are also much more difficult to maintain.
Avoid Any Unnecessary Cutting
While features like skylights and chimneys are nice, they can open you up to more issues. This is because you are cutting into your roof, rather than leaving it as a solid piece of material. Even with proper fitting, insulation and flashings, it still makes it more difficult to keep moisture out. In the winter when snow sits on your roof, it provides plenty of opportunity for moisture to find a way in.
Keep Chimneys Near the Roof Edge
Chimneys are a necessity for those who have fireplaces, but you need to consider the placement of it in relation to your roof. This is because cutting into your roof will always make it more vulnerable than leaving it in one solid piece. To help minimize your chances of damage, you should place your chimney as close to your roof’s edge as possible to prevent cutting into your roof more than necessary. This will also help during winter to make sure the moisture of melting snow around your chimney from the heat it produces will end up in your gutters. Melting snow can freeze and damage your roof, so minimizing the amount of contact it has with your roof before ending up in your gutters is crucial.
Don’t Skip on Extra Protection
You need to make sure you have the proper features in addition to your roof to help it against the harsh winter. Fascia board, quality gutters and downspouts, and flashings are all necessary for the exterior of your roof. You also need to look into proper insulation and a vapor barrier to help keep moisture from getting into your home.
Choose the Right Materials
Certain materials do a better job of handling the extreme cold and snow than others. Asphalt shingles are one of the worst options because of their thin design and brittleness in colder temperatures. They can also become looser and create spots for moisture to get through while you rake of the snow. Instead, you should look into materials like metal sheeting for your covering. This will hold up to the extreme cold, as well as make it easier to remove snow without damaging it.
If you are concerned about your home’s roof or you have a roof leak, be sure to contact Grand Rapids Home Pros today for a roof inspection on your home. We offer full roof inspections even in winter. And we can provide pricing quotes for any repair or replacement needed.
