As one of the most important parts of your home, your roof is exposed to the elements. The right roofing material, installed properly, can help ensure your home stays safe and dry all year long. However, as with any part of your home, it’s important to take precautions and do regular maintenance to prevent damage from the weather.
Whether it’s rain, snow or hail, extreme weather conditions can cause serious damage to your home. If you’re in an area where it’s common to experience these types of weather events, it’s essential to take the necessary steps to safeguard your home from these threatening storms.
Make sure to inspect your roof on a regular basis for any signs of damage or wear and tear. This will help you avoid costly repairs or replacements in the future.
Replace worn or damaged shingles with new ones that have a higher R-value, which will help keep your home warmer in the summer and cooler in the winter. Also, install attic fans to help vent hot air during the summer and reduce moisture buildup in your attic space.
Don’t forget to clean your gutters regularly! This will allow rainwater to drain away from your roof and off of the foundation. It will also help to avoid any water from entering your home, which can lead to severe damage and costly repairs.
A properly cleaned gutter system will also protect your home from ice dams, which are dangerous buildups of ice on your roof’s surface. Ice is a lot heavier than snow and can easily clog drainage systems. If left unchecked, ice dams can damage your home’s structural integrity and potentially lead to flooding.
If you’re not sure how to tackle this project, consider hiring a professional such as Gutter Cleaning Lake Oswego to get the job done correctly. They’ll be able to safely and efficiently remove debris, scrubbing down the exterior of your gutters with safe tools and then removing any black marks or algae that may have formed on the fronts of your gutters.
Besides keeping your home safer from harsh elements, gutter cleaning is an easy and inexpensive weekend project. Getting your gutters cleared of any leaves, sticks or other debris will help to direct the rainwater off your roof and away from your home’s foundation, which can prevent extensive damage and costly repairs.
Be sure to remove anything from the roof that you don’t want to be blown onto your property during strong winds or hail. This includes anything that is loose, such as an empty barrel or other objects that aren’t well-grounded and could be thrown into the roof and cause injury.
Don’t neglect your windows, either! Window shutters, made of impact-resistant materials or glass, can provide an extra level of protection against the pounding of wind and rain. Additionally, installing a roof that is strong enough to withstand the force of a storm will keep your home safe and secure for years to come.
