Whether you are a new homeowner or have owned your residence for many years, anything threatening to your roof and its ability to protect your home should be given top priority. Often overlooked, the importance of a sound roof protecting your home is unquestionable yet many homeowners fail to even pay attention until something serious threatens the integrity of the roof’s structure. Some of these dangerous elements are unavoidable and cannot be predicted but many can be prevented with appropriate action prior to something occuring.
The first line of defense against the elements and everything else, your roof, its structure, pitch, material, and age should all be factors that are either investigated or known prior to purchasing or building a home. If you’re responsible for a new construction, then obviously the age is not a concern, but knowing the type of weather in the area where you’re building can help contractors know which roof type would be best suited for the particular property in question.
By understanding the importance of your roof and the wear it may be subjected to, informed decisions can be made about the future maintenance services needed to ensure your roof serves its intended purpose for many years to come. Typically, a new roof will last somewhere between 25 and 30 years with proper maintenance and upkeep – such an investment shouldn’t be taken lightly and once installed or inherited, it should be cared for appropriately.
Following is a brief overview of the top dangers to your home’s roof structure.
Trees
Depending on the proximity of trees to your home, branches and potentially part of the canopy structure may overhang your home’s roof posing a potential for danger or damage. Limbs and branches can fall causing structural damage to your roof in addition to trees themselves which can topple and if impacted, hurt to the entire structure.
If you have large limbs lingering overhead or trees which could fall and potentially cause significant damage to your roof then, action should be taken immediately to resolve all of these issues. Removal of the limbs or trees will eliminate the danger and ensure your roof maintains integrity while serving its intended purpose.
Ice Dams
The unfortunate formation of ice dams can cause damage to your home by allowing water to pool overhead and then potentially penetrate the roof structure. Depending on where you live, an abundance of frozen precipitation combined with thawing and refreezing temperatures can lead to the formation of these potentially hazardous phenomenons.
Knowing how to get rid of ice dams begins with taking measure to prevent them from occurring in the first place. By implementing measures to keep your roof at an even cool temperature, a homeowner can fight against these ice formations.
Ventilation
While good ventilation is able to provide a preventative measure against the formation of ice dams, ensuring your roof is properly ventilated provides other positive benefits. If your roof isn’t properly ventilated either with the use of an exhaust fan or natural effect based on the structure or type of your roof, then other factors can be affected.
Appropriate air flow reduces energy costs and keeps the inhabited portions of the home or building from suffering temperature extremes. If the airflow in the roof is restricted then regardless of how your home’s heating and cooling systems are working, they can be strained by the loss of air overhead. Always a plus, conserving energy by utilizing the availability of proficient airflow may also help to extend the service life of your roof.
Moss/Algae
The formation of moss or algae on a roof can be caused by areas that are subject to cool and shaded temperatures, in addition to moisture. Not only are these patches extremely unsightly but they can also lead to many different issues unrelated to the moss or algae itself.
Similar to ice dams, an unattended patch of moss has the potential to form a barrier, keeping rainwater from flowing freely off of the roof and into the guttering system to carry it away from the home. This water, when left in a certain spot for an extended period of time can create damaging issues, including leaking into the attic and penetrating the home. Any areas on the roof which may be subject to moss formations should be inspected regularly to ensure that these areas remain free and clear of moss, algae, or any other fungi. From warm, soapy water to chemicals, there are a number of options to choose from in order for homeowners to implement the roof moss removal process.
Weather
While many of the previously mentioned factors can be predictable or observed, Mother Nature is quite the opposite. You may know the area in which you live is subject to above average snowfall or rain but severe weather is often unpredictable. High winds, hail, heavy rains, ice, and snow can all be potentially hazardous to your roof.
Weather can damage individual shingles or worse and any potential imperfections should be examined once it is safe to do so. After enduring high winds for an extended period of time or any other severe weather, a proper roof inspection should be conducted.
Often these need to be professional inspections, administered by qualified individuals who will mount the roof and evaluate closely any potential damage. Homeowners may elect to view their roof from the ground initially but some elements of damage may not be visible unless on top of the building itself.
Backed by decades of experience, Arvada Roofing and Construction has been providing quality roof construction and repair throughout the Denver area for nearly 20 years. Equipped with an amazing staff to handle any roofing job, no matter the size, our company will work tirelessly to ensure you are pleased with both the design choice and end result of any roofing related project on your home or other structure. Providing roofing services of all types in addition to siding and seamless gutters, we are ready to help. Contact us today online or call 303-432-2753 for your free estimate!