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Here in Arkansas, the winters are far from harsh. However, even with just a few nights per year that might dip below freezing, it takes a toll on your roof. If snow, freezing rain, or other precipitation come into contact with your roof, that adds even more extra stress. You don’t want to be caught by surprise, but fortunately, there are some helpful things you can do to properly prepare your Arkansas roof for the winter season.
Get a Professional Roof Inspection
Probably one of the best steps that you can take to prepare your roof for winter is to get a professional roof inspection. This is where one of our roofing professionals comes out to your home and examines your entire roofing structure. This means aspects like your roofing materials, flashing, decking, gutters, and so forth. They will alert you of any potential problem with your roof so these can be addressed before winter. Plus, they’ll let you know how much longer your roof is likely to last.
Have Your Gutters Cleaned
Another necessary step is to have your gutters cleaned. When gutters get backed up with debris, like leaves and twigs, they may not be able to adequately drain water off your roof. This can cause water to drop down your siding and end up against your home’s foundation, leading to erosion and eventually foundational cracks.
Trim Back Shrubbery
Whenever shrubbery comes into contact with your roofing material, it can harness moisture. This excess moisture will prematurely deteriorate your roofing. It’s best to ensure all your vining shrubbery is properly trimmed back to prevent moisture from damaging your shingles. Furthermore, be sure to trim back any branches that overhang your home, even if they’re healthy. All it takes is too much snow or a storm with strong wind gusts ripping through your area to cause a tree branch to break off and damage your home’s roof.
Check Your Roofing Vents
All good roofing structures will have vents that allow fresh air to flow into the space between your attic and your roof’s decking material. This is absolutely necessary, especially during the winter months, to prevent your roofing materials from heating up on their underside. Poor ventilation could cause ice damming to occur and premature deterioration of your roofing materials. It can be exceedingly helpful to use small mesh screening to prevent unwanted rodents from entering your attic.
Check Your Attic Insulation
Insulation also plays a big role in preventing heat loss from your home during the winter. When prepping your roof, be sure to check the state of your insulation. It should sit at or above the top of the joists in your attic. If it sits below them or there are areas missing, be sure to add more insulation. This will go a long way not only toward keeping heat inside your home but also preventing heat damage to your roofing materials.
Consider a Roof Replacement Service
Going into winter with a roof that’s at the end of its lifespan can prove to be quite costly. You may experience issues like water damage, damage to your home’s structure, and even damage to your belongings. Some common signs that your roof is in need of a replacement service include curling shingles, lots of missing shingles, massive granule loss, and a sagging roof.
Tips on Maintaining Your Roof During Winter
When bad weather shows up this winter season, there are some key things you’ll want to do to properly maintain your roof’s integrity. Whenever your home receives a large amount of snow, it can be helpful to remove it with a snow rake. This will decrease the extra weight on your roof and prevent excessive contact of snow with your roofing materials.
Whenever a nasty storm does blow through your community, take a few moments and assess the state of your roof after it’s over. Be sure to look both inside and outside for damage. If you notice any missing shingles or any leaks showing in your attic, it’s best to get repair service as soon as possible. You never want to let roofing problems persist unimpeded because they can lead to much costlier and extensive damage.
Trustworthy Roof Maintenance Service
Big Rock KangaROOF offers trustworthy roof repair and maintenance service for the Little Rock, AR area. We can also assist with all your storm damage, commercial roofing, emergency roof repair, roof installation, and roof replacement needs. Call us today to book your next service appointment with one of our roofers.
