Preparing Your Home For Winter: Should You Replace Your Roof?
Having your roof replaced in the middle of winter can be quite difficult if not impossible. This is because many roofing materials such as asphalt shingles are far more susceptible to cracking in cold weather and are therefore more difficult to install over the winter season. The presence of snow and ice can also make it unsafe for roofing contractors to access your home's roof in order to perform repairs or to install a new roof. It is for these reasons that it is so important to address the need for a new roof before the winter season officially arrives. If you are not quite sure whether or not your home is in need of a roof replacement, checking your home for the following warning signs can help you to make this determination.
Mold & Mildew Growing On Roof
It is quite common for roof damage to result in increased moisture levels as water is allowed to become trapped behind the shingles. This extra moisture can easily lead to the growth of mold and mildew on your roof. If you spot the growth of this fungi on your roof, there is a good chance that your home is in fact in need of a new roof.
It can be difficult at times to identify mold and mildew growth from a distance. In most cases, this type of growth will simply appear as dark spots on your roof when looking at it from the ground.
Missing Or Cracked Shingles
Heavy rainfalls, high winds, and falling debris during spring and summer storms can result in some rather significant storm damage to your roof. If you notice that your roof is either missing shingles or that some of your shingles have been cracked, it is extremely important that you address the need for a residential roof replacement prior to the start of winter. This is so important because a storm-damaged roof will not be up to the task of supporting the extra weight that heavy snowfalls or ice accumulation can bring.
Shifting Shingles
Even if your shingles are fully intact, the hardware that holds these shingles in place can be damaged or worn, allowing the shingles to shift out of their proper position on the roof. When this happens, you will typically see an area of shingles that no longer appears even with the shingles on the rest of the roof. If you spot this type of damage, it is important that you call a professional contractor to further explore the need for a roof replacement or repair rather than trying to access the roof yourself in order to make this assessment. If the shingles on your roof are in fact loose, attempting to access your roof on your own can be very dangerous.
Better Safe Than Sorry
If you still are not quite sure what condition your roof is in or if it has been a while since your roof was last inspected by a professional, you will want to schedule an appointment with a local roofing company to have your roof inspected for damage. This will not only allow you to determine whether or not you require a roof replacement, but it will also allow you to address the need for any repairs prior to the onset of winter weather.
Contact a company like Elite Exteriors to learn more about roofing replacement.
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