Important Tips about Roof Damage Before Winter Comes
It is finally Fall again here in Texas. Texas weather is known to change quickly changing from very hot and sunny days to wet and cold. Are you ready for it? Better yet, is your roof ready for the winter months? One of the most vulnerable parts of your house is your roof, which can sustain damage from wind, snow, ice, heavy rains, and fallen trees. Failing to make needed repairs is one reason your roof can fall prey to the winter elements. Following are 7 important roofing tips you should do before the following winter.There are different types of severe weather can put added stress on roofs, from high-speed winds ripping off shingles, heavy debris and ice getting caught in gutters, to the weight of excess snow. Read below our helpful tips about roof damage and ways to prevent it.
Tip 1: Check Your Roof
Check for any roof damage. Pay attention to surface bubbles and areas with missing gravel on flat roofs, or missing or damaged shingles or tiles on sloped roofs. Leaks can eventually damage the wood sheathing and rafters below the shingles, leading to thousands of dollars in repairs. If you binoculars, it will help you to help spot cracked, curled, or missing shingles safely from the ground. Some people are uncomfortable looking for roof damage to it is wiser to contact Northwest Roofing, a professional roofing contractor to check your roof and flashing around chimneys to help prevent water penetration, skylights, and roof valleys for leaks, and the rubber boots near vents for cracks that can let moisture seep into your home. 
Add extra insulation in the attic to guard against ice dams. When too much heat escapes, it can melt the ice and snow on the roof. When it refreezes, it can cause an ice dam, causing water to back up into your home causing damage to your walls.
Tip 2: Clean Your Gutters
Clear gutters and downspouts of debris. As the leaves fall, make sure they are not building up in the gutters. Gutters that are stuffed with leaves, pine needles, and other debris can let water spill over the side, pool around your home’s foundation, and seep inside. Water that freezes in gutters can force snow and ice into roof shingles, causing damage and leaks.
The cost is about $300-$400 a year for a pro to clean your gutters in the fall and spring. That might be worth it rather than risking a fall off a ladder if you do the job yourself.
You may want to consider changing your gutters to a gutter-guard system to keep debris out and rainwater flowing correctly within your gutters. Make sure that gutter drains extend 5 feet from the house—and that soil slopes away from the foundation 1 inch per foot for 6 feet or more.
If your roof needs replacing, consider impact-resistant roofing materials, especially if you live in a hail-prone area, which yes, Dallas and Fort Worth areas are hail-prone. At roughly $3.00-$4.00 per square foot installed, new sheathing would total about $7,000 for a 2,300-square-foot house if you had to replace all of it. Figure on an additional $7,000 to $10,000 to install new shingles, plus added costs if the roof rafters need replacing.
Tip 3: Trim Your Trees
Trim trees and remove dead branches so they will not damage your home if they fall because of wind, ice, or snow.
Tip 4: Clean Your Chimney
A wood-burning fireplace or stove may be cozy, but creosote buildup can block the flow of smoke and cause chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. In addition, even unused chimneys can develop cracks that weaken the structure. If your chimney has not had a recent inspection, schedule one now before you want to use your fireplace the first time this winter. Figure on roughly $160 to $400 for an inspection and a sweep. Go to Chimney Safety Institute of America for industry-certified chimney sweeps and check Better Business Bureau for complaints. Homeowners can save up to $5,000 if the chimney flue liner cracks and thousands more if there is a fire. You also avoid potentially deadly safety risks.
Tip 5: Get Rid of The Pests
It is unfortunate, but pests can eat you out of house and home! Termites literally eat your house. They cause more than $5 billion in property damage each year. Carpenter ants destroy wood by tunneling inside it. The best way to protect your home is to know their signs and the act fast.
Tip 6: Carpenter ants:
They are normally black, though some are red or a combination of the two colors. You will find them crawling around the inside and outside of your house as they search for moisture. Spring and summer are their busiest times, but they can keep munching on wood throughout the winter if temperatures are warm enough. If you see or hear them (they sometimes make munching noises in the walls), call in a pro. Also, cut back branches and plants from your house, move firewood and other stacked timber far away from it, and seal any cracks.
Tip 7: Termites:
These home wreckers are light-colored and are rarely seen, except when they swarm in early spring. Call a professional exterminator if you see swarming or wood that is soft, blistered, or darkened. Other signs include mud tubes inside or outside the house, especially around the foundation. Go to Pest World to find an industry-certified exterminator.
Northwest Roofing Uses Only Quality Roofing Shingles
We only use the top roofing shingles available. Consumer Reports tested various roofing shingles and came up with a list of the highest quality roofing shingles.
- Owens Corning
- Certain Teed
- Tamko
- Atlas
Northwest Roofing has been installing the same quality shingles for years. We do not cut corners or buy seconds. We install only the highest quality roofing shingles. Our customers are happy and their roof will last much longer than their neighbors’ roofs because they chose wiser and got their money’s worth.
Protect your home by calling Northwest Roofing today at 817.439.3065 or 817.614.1630 or receive a free estimate by completing our easy Contact US form. Do not let winter catch you in the cold with a damaged roof! Call Northwest Roofing, a professional and experienced roofing company. 