Roof Maintenance Throughout The Seasons

Roof Maintenance Throughout The Seasons

Part 1roofMaintenance through the SeaSonSTaking care of the roof isn’t just about mak-ing sure it’s free from holes. Some factors are present only during certain times of the year. Knowing how to take care of the roof during each season can make the difference between a fully functional roof and something that could

barely pass as one.

Before we get to season specific problems, you must first understand the various types of roof-ing damage that can happen any time of the year. Every single type of damage tends to start out small, but can quickly escalate to a major

issue if not addressed as soon as possible.

Roof Maintenance Throughout The Seasons

MoistureThis is perhaps the most well-known type of roofing damage. Moisture-related dam-age usually comes in the form of leaks, and they often lead to oth-er problems later on. Some roofing materials such as wood are extra vulnerable to moisture damage, while others are totally immune to it. However, any roofing material won’t protect you from moisture if it’s been compromised.

WindThis type of roofing dam-age is closely associated with moisture damage because they often go hand-in-hand during hurricanes.

Well-maintained roofs can easily withstand moderate winds, but strong ones can still tear tile or panel off the decking. In case that happens, the roof will be immediately vulnerable to a host of other roofing problems.

Roof Maintenance Throughout The Seasons

AnimalsYour roof offers great pro-tection against weather, and animals will take advantage of that fact. Animals that pose a threat to your roof can be anything from small insects to large birds and mammals. They could tear off parts

of your roof, cause unsightly stains or rusting, and even damage your home’s insula-tion and wiring. Unfortu-nately, getting rid of them can be more difficult than repairing the damage done.

Physical impactThat overhanging branch may provide a nice shade during a sunny day, but it won’t do you any good if it breaks off and fall on your roof. If you’re living near a park or a baseball stadium, you’ve probably had your share of errant baseballs hi-tting your roof. Last but not least, hailstorms can happen any time of the year, and are bad news all around.

That’s about it for the general types of roof damage.

Roof Maintenance Throughout The Seasons

Part 2roofMaintenance SPring and SuMMer

The warmer seasons of the year may be easier on your roof, but it doesn’t mean you should go easy on roof maintenance. Spring and su-mmer bring about problems that are only present during the warmer times of the year.

Roof Maintenance Throughout The Seasons

Heat damageUnlike in fall or winter, when the air is cold throughout the day, outdoor temperatures during spring and summer tend to reach a very high point at noon and eventually cool off at night. This means roof shingles or panels tend to expand and contract more, and are vulner-able to being warped out of shape. Fortunately, proper installation (leaving enough room for tiles to expand without pushing against each

other) can help avoid this problem. Warped tiles or panels can leave gaps where water can pass through and should be re-placed as soon as possible.

roof ShingleS or PanelS tend to exPand and contract More, and are vulnerable to being

warPed out of ShaPe.

““

Roof Maintenance Throughout The Seasons

BirdsBirds usually start building nests during spring, and your roof is a perfect, safe building spot for most bird species. Most birds will usually make their homes under the roof eaves, but some will try

to find the smallest gaps on your roof and try to make it bigger by tearing at it. Since getting rid of inhabited bird nests is illegal in some states, the saf-est way to avoid bird-related damage is by preventing them from building a nest in the first place. This can be done by placing barriers in possible en-tryways such as gutter spouts, chimneys, and air vents.

Mold and MildewAlthough rain occurs more often during colder season, mold and mildew tend to grow faster dur-ing the warmer months. In fact, many cases of mold formations start from condensed moisture that accumulates on air vents, because air conditioning units work extra hard to keep the indoors cold dur-ing spring or summer. Check vents in the ceiling

for dark spots or stains and get rid of the moisture before mold starts developing. Spring and summer is also the perfect time to search for possible roof leaks since the sun shines brighter.

We are done with the warm seasons and hopefully your roof is still problem free

Roof Maintenance Throughout The Seasons

Part 3roofMaintenance fall and winter

This is it – the part of the year most home-owners have prepared for. Fall and winter season are widely considered more difficult for roofs than spring and summer because of one thing: precipitation. During the colder half of the year, rainstorms and hurricanes happen more often, bringing strong winds and massive amounts of rainfall with it. Aside from the extra stress on the roof, it’s also more difficult (and dangerous) to conduct repairs and maintenance during the colder seasons.

Roof Maintenance Throughout The Seasons

Dead leavesDead leaves piling on your roof may seem harmless at first glance, but they can cause multiple types of damage if left alone. When dead leaves rot, they provide nourishment for bacteria and fungus, which can cause roof stains and even pose a health hazard. The porous sur-face of decaying leaves can form a slippery film over the roof surface, making roof inspections dangerous. Dead leaves can also form a dam and force water to flow into gaps between roof panels

instead of going straight to gutter. Fortunately, avoid-ing this problem is just a matter of pushing off dead piles of leaves before they accumulate too much.

Small MammalsIf spring has nesting birds, fall and winter has rodents and other small mammals. These unwanted guests tend to look for a warm, safe place where they can hibernate during winter (your roof). Rodents have sharp teeth that they can use to tear through panels, while larger animals such as raccoons can use their claws. Getting rid of these animals almost always re-quires help from a professional, since their bites can inflict rabies or debilitating infections.

Roof Maintenance Throughout The Seasons

SnowSnow is widely regarded as the ultimate threat to roofs during winter season and for good rea-son. A thick layer of snow distributed through-out the roof area can weigh a few tons, and can pose a real danger to anyone or anything indoors. As if that wasn’t enough, snow can also cause the formation of ice dams, which trap snowmelt and force the water to seep into gaps and cause moisture damage (like how leaves trap rainwater). Getting rid of snow be-fore it reaches a foot deep is the best way to avoid these problems, but it’s also important to have a professional check the integrity of roof supports in case a sudden snow-storm dumps a lot of snow on your house in such a short time.

Keeping track of a different set of problems every season may seem like a troublesome task, but the cost of preventing major roof issues in the first place is a lot more manageable than repairing your roof after the damage has been done.

Roof Maintenance Throughout The Seasons

TiTTle BroThers ConsTruCTion787 Southfield Road Lincoln Park, MI 48146

877-228-5658(313) 382-6186