Winter in the Victoria area means rain and wind – and even the occasional snowstorm. Even with the wet and windy weather we receive during the colder months, many homeowners in the Victoria area overlook weatherproofing their roof in time for winter. Failing to perform proper maintenance of your roofing system can cause leaks and major damage – a potentially disastrous outcome during a storm. If you’ve forgotten or have been putting off weatherproofing your roof, now is the time to do it before the onset of winter makes performing maintenance much more difficult.
Inspect Your Roof
The first step of weatherproofing any roof is to inspect it from the ground to determine if there are any tell-tale signs of damage, such as missing or bent shingles. We recommend repairing these issues as soon as possible. Fixing these issues may require replacing entire shingles, and in some cases may require replacing a section of your roof.
Next you’ll want to check for any weatherproofing issues that can be fixed from the ground. Look closely at the flashing around skylights, vents and any chimneys.
Cracked or missing weather stripping around exterior doors is a common weatherproofing problem in homes across Canada. As temperatures drop, homeowners must make sure their weather stripping is not damaged or broken. Damaged weather stripping enables cold drafts to seep into your home which can cost a small fortune in heating bills.
Clean the Gutters
It’s important to periodically remove debris from the gutters of your roof at least once a year – and more often if you notice it being a frequent problem. Smalls bits of debris will retain moisture from rainfall and possibly rot or mold. When that starts, it will break down roofing material like granules on roofing shingles.
Here in Victoria we’re lucky to be able witness beautiful fall colours as the leaves turn and fall to the ground. While the colourful leaves are gorgeous, once dropped from the trees they can become a nuisance for your roof. Dead leaves that fall onto roofs often end up in gutters thanks to wind and rain. These dead leaves often cause clogs that prevent water from being properly drained from your gutters, causing them to spill over and leak.
It’s important to clear out excess leaves, pine cones and other debris from your gutters before winter sets in. This will ensure rain is properly drained from your roof and helps prepare your roof for the stormy weather to come.
The experts at Shoreline Roofing can help you with all of your roofing needs, including maintenance, installations, repairs, de-mossing and much more. Contact us today at (250) 413-7967 or at ed@shorelineroofing.ca to find out more about how our services and how we can help you.