All year-round, we are not spared from nasty weather that can bring heavy rains and damaging winds down on our homes. Luckily, homes have a roof that acts as the first line of defense against various weather elements. However, your roof also takes a beating from all its hard work.
As a homeowner, it’s essential to know how extreme weather conditions can have an impact on your home’s roofing. Before going to the roofing preparations, here are some of the most typical extreme weather conditions and the ways they affect roofing structures.
Wind
Strong winds are among the main culprits for roof damage. The mixture of different elements that work together with strong winds can rip off roof tiles and shingles, loosen your gutter system, and damage your wooden roofing frame.
Rain
While roofs are designed to protect you against elements like rain, it doesn’t mean it’s waterproof. Your roof can sustain water damage depending on the severity of the rainfall and condition of your roof. If your roof has cracked, damaged, or improperly installed tiles, water can easily penetrate your roofing structure and find its ways into your home.
Snow
Snow may only appear during winter, but it’s a common cause for roofing damage. Snow isn’t as soft and lightweight as people like to think. When it accumulates on the roof, it can become heavy enough to cause the roof or gutters to collapse.
Hail
Hailstorms are an interesting phenomenon to witness, but it’s also highly damaging to properties such as cars, buildings, and homes. Hail leaves millions of dollars in damage in its wake. For roofs, they can create holes or cracks, weakening the entire roof.
Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to protect your roof from the hail damages. The best thing to do after a hailstorm is to schedule a roof inspection to check for any damages and get them repaired immediately. These holes or cracks can expand and even lead to an entire roof replacement.
Extreme Heat
In certain situations, heat can be among the most damaging compare to any other type of weather. While it’s inevitable that your roof will be exposed to ultraviolet rays, prolonged exposure to the sun can result in brittle and cracked shingles. Roofing materials can also expand and shrink due to extreme heat and temperatures.
The heat doesn’t just cause physical damage on your roof, but it can also affect how the ventilation of your roof and attic ventilation functions. This creates a rise in indoor temperatures, leading to a substantial increase in your energy bills.
Ways to Prepare Your Roof for Extreme Weathers
With the damages your roof can sustain from storms and weather, you must always prepare for the worst, or it won’t just wreak havoc on your roof but also the inside your home. Make sure you don’t end up paying for expensive repairs or full replacement by preparing your roof for weather extremes.
Plan for The Worst
An impending weather event can’t always be as severe as initially predicted. However, you can never be too prepared. If you know severe weather is coming, prepare for the worst. Weather is unpredictable. The moderate winds and heavy rain can quickly change to severe weather.
You won’t lose anything in taking precautions if the storm proves to be non-damaging. However, you’ll be regretting it if you fail to prepare and sustain thousands of dollars of damage. Treat every warning as a real threat so you will never be caught off guard.
Make Sure the Gutters Are Clean
Most people clean their gutters every spring and fall season, but it pays to keep your gutters free and clear all year-round. A clogged drainage system can cause many problems. Once the water stays on the roof, it can pool and damage your roof, siding, and trim as it leaks into the house.
Additionally, the excess weight of the wet leaves and debris can cause the gutters to break off and fall. It can even take a part of your roof along with it. The accumulated water can also cause mold growth and put your entire family’s health at risk.
Investing in gutter screens or guards is an effective way to prevent downpipes from clogging in the first place. However, cleaning your gutters regularly is just as important. Before a storm hits, don’t forget to check your gutters and make sure that everything is working properly.
Secure Your Doors and Windows
It may be strange to pay attention to your doors and windows when your concern is your roof. Still, it’s one of the few extra things you can do to prepare for severe weather events before it arrives. Secured doors and windows prevent debris from smashing into them and breaking them. If this happens, it can cause air pressure to drive up and weaken your roof.
Secure Roof Mounted Equipment
Roof mounting systems such as satellite dishes, air-conditioning units, and solar panels have been installed to multiple structures over the decades. While these things are attached well for most of the part, they can still detach from extreme weather conditions and leave gaping holes in your roof.
Conduct regular checks to ensure these accessories are firmly attached. If there’s a severe weather warning in your area, make sure to remove any mounted equipment.
Perform a Roof Inspection
Using a pair of binoculars, inspect your roof from the ground and watch out for things like loose or missing shingles. Any issue can only worsen during a storm as heavy winds can blow away any weakened shingles and lead to water damage. A gap can also weaken your roof structure and increase the chances of losing your whole roof in a storm.
Don’t forget to check for damaged flashing around your skylights, chimneys, and vent stacks. You can even hire a professional to inspect your roof for a more thorough inspection
Make Any Repairs or Replacements as Soon as Possible
If you found any damage during the inspection, make sure to do the necessary repairs before the storm hits to avoid additional damages from the unpredictable weather. Don’t wait for any catastrophic weather to arrive before making these repairs, or it will only get worse for your roof.
Fahey Roofing Contractors has the experienced and skilled contractors you need to help you with any necessary roof repairs and roof replacement. We serve various areas in West Virginia and Ohio. Visit our website today at www.faheyroofingcontractors.com or contact us at (304) 826-1323 for West Virginia or (740) 523-0380 for Ohio to learn more.