Winter in Vancouver Island means rain, wind and snow – and plenty of it. Despite the severe weather we often receive during the colder months, many homeowners on the Island overlook weatherproofing their roof for the winter. Neglecting to take proper care of your roof before winter sets in can cause leaks and major damage – a potentially disastrous outcome during a storm. If you have been putting off weatherproofing your roof, now is the time to do it before weather conditions worsen and performing normal maintenance becomes increasingly difficult.
Check for Damage
The first step of weatherproofing your roof is to inspect it from the ground to see if there are any obvious 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.
Remove Excess Debris
It is equally important to remove the same debris that can build up in gutters from the surface of a roof too. Smalls bits of debris will retain moisture and possibly rot or mold. When that starts, it will break down roofing material like granules on roofing shingles.
On Vancouver Island we’re fortunate to witness beautiful fall colours as the leaves turn and fall before onset of winter. While the leaves are gorgeous, once dropped from the trees they can be nuisance for your roof. Dead leaves that land on rooftops often settle in gutters thanks to wind and rain. These leaves can 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 Roofpro offer a wide variety of services, including roof installations, repairs and maintenance. We also perform thorough roof inspections and will check for all possible issues with your roof. If you don’t feel comfortable venturing atop your roof, then don’t. Leave it to the pros at Roofpro.
Roofpro is your go-to Central Vancouver Island roofing company. Based in Nanaimo, Roofpro offers services to all communities from Duncan to Campbell River, as well as Port Alberni, Tofino and Ucluelet. We provide a wide variety of roofing services catered to your unique needs and specifications. Call us at 250-248-3400 or email us at info@theroofpro.ca today to find out more about how we can put a roof over your head!