Three tips to winterizing your roof
South Carolina isn’t exactly known as a winter wonderland, but it can get rather chilly here in the first few months of the calendar year. The temperatures frequently drop below 50 degrees for extended periods of time, and for all intents and purposes, that’s winter weather. This means there are certain things you should do to make sure your roof is prepared for the change in weather.
Here are three things we at Southline Roofing recommend you do in order to adequately set your roof up to withstand the winter.
Cut down any tree limbs that look to be loose
Take it from us: the colder and windier it gets outside, the less appealing you’ll find the act of climbing a ladder and chopping off a tree limb. But if your house is near any trees with extended limbs, you’ll have to do it sooner or later- needless to say, you don’t want a falling tree limb to make an impact on your roof- so you may as well do it sooner when the weather is warmer and the wind is less obnoxious. Be sure to have someone spot you on the ladder if you can’t reach it from the ground, and make sure you’ve picked out a safe landing spot for that tree limb.
Clean your rain gutters
Rain gutters that become dirty or filled with debris are never good, but this goes double for when the temperature becomes chilly. Algae can grow on your roof and casually sneak its way around, through, and under your roof’s shingles. When the temperature dips below the freezing point of 32 degrees Fahrenheit- which is not especially common but certainly not altogether unheard of in the Charleston area- the algae expands, creating an even bigger mess for you to have to clean up. Additionally, if your rain gutters become clogged, water tends to seep down through your roof, into your attic, and into your home, which could potentially cause hundreds- if not thousands- of dollars worth of water damage.
When in doubt, have your roof inspected by professionals
It’s great if you’re a true DIY-er, someone who can accomplish all sorts of tasks with your hands. But unless you’re a professional roofer, it’s always best to have somebody else who works with roofs for a living come to inspect your roof just to be sure it’s all set for the winter months ahead. Professional roofers know what to look for on every square inch of your roof, and what’s more, they’re walking around on top of roofs all the time. Even if your friends marvel at how good you are with your hands, if you don’t make a living walking around on top of roofs, you shouldn’t be doing so on your own roof unless it’s an emergency. A single misstep or moment of lost balance can lead to you falling off your roof, which in turn can lead to serious injuries. Best to leave that to the pros.
