Roofing 101

Rooftips: How to winterize your roof
Winter is here, and though winter weather is part of the inevitable wear and tear a roof endures, there are some things you can do to minimize damage.

• Maintain gutters. Remove leaves, acorns, sticks and other debris from gutters, so melting snow and ice can flow freely. This can prevent ice damming -- a condition where water is unable to properly drain through the gutters and instead seeps into the house causing water to drip from the ceiling and walls.
  
  
• Trim trees and remove dead branches. Ice, snow and wind can cause weak trees or branches to break and cause damage and possibly injury.
  
  
• Take special care if you plan to be away from home. In addition to the usual precautions (turning off the water, etc.), have a neighbor inspect your property regularly. That way if there is a problem (such as a leak caused by ice damming), it can be caught and corrected quickly,
  
  
• Keep an eye on roof vents. During particularly cold temperatures, ice can accumulate in roof vent stacks and clog them up.
  
  
• Ice Blockages. When snow melts during the day and refreezes at night, ice dams can form. This ice accumulation can damage your walls, insulation, ceilings, siding and soffits. Ice also may creep under your shingles or eaves and begin to enter your attic, makingexpensive repairs necessary. To prevent this problem, make sure you ventilate your roof adequately, allowing sufficient air flow from the soffits to the ridge; insulate your attic sufficently to keep heat loss to a minimum; clean leaves and debris from your gutters and downspouts; and keep the snow collecting on your roof to a minimum (not usually a big problem in Virginia!).

And of course, we always recommend regular inspections, followed by repairs as needed, to extend the life of your roof and avoid costly damage from leaks, etc.