Your roof is one of the most important structural components that make up your house. It keeps the elements out so you and your family can remain comfortable all year long, but neglect maintaining it, and you may find yourself in a costly situation. With that, let’s get your home’s roof ready for fall and winter rainstorms with advice from the professionals at Ace Hardware in Seattle:
- Trim overhanging trees: While strong winds and wild animals are known to cause damage to roof shingles and other roofing materials, what you may not be aware of are the dangers posed by nearby trees. There’s not only the possibility that large trees can fall over onto your house, but branches hanging over onto the roof can also lead to damage. If you’ve noticed scratched, cracked and missing shingles, this may be due to tree limbs swaying back and forth. Plan a time to get nearby trees trimmed back before the stormy season kicks into full gear.
- Clean out the gutters: Your home’s rain gutters are in place to ensure that the water runoff from the roof moves away from your house, and thus away from the foundation after exiting the downspout. But, if the gutters are clogged with wet leaves, pollen and other tree debris, then rainwater is going to have a hard time flowing out. Granules that get knocked off shingles by overhanging limbs and wind also contribute to clogged gutters. What you should do is clear them before and after the rainy season, and periodically while it’s raining.
- Install quality gutter covers: Since a clogged gutter can cause water to overflow back onto your roof, you may want to invest in quality gutter covers to keep a majority of debris from falling in. This way, you have fewer leaves to clear out, saving you energy and time spent up on the ladder. Gutter protectors are designed with small holes or openings to let rainwater in while debris remains on top of the outside cover. Leaves will either blow off or be more easily removed when there’s no need to dig through gutter grime.
- Check the attic: When you seek out expert advice from your local Ace Hardware in Seattle, they are likely to suggest that you check the state of your attic. Why check the attic? Well, it’s the interior area of your home that’s closest to your roof. If you notice water stains on the attic ceiling or on the plywood below, then you must inspect further to find the source of the leak. During a rainy day, you might see water leaking into the attic from the roof. Also, attic insulation exposed to moisture may be wet, soiled and growing mold. Replace damaged installation immediately.
- Get an inspection: After your own initial inspection, you may find it necessary to contact a professional roofing contractor to ensure there are no significant problems.
Whether you need new roofing materials or the tools and supplies to make repairs, your local Ace Hardware in Seattle, Stewart Lumber & Hardware Co., has got you covered. Call us today for more information!