Winter Wonderland: Taking care of your roof in Canada

Monday 1 December 2014

Taking care of your roof in Canada

The past few weeks have brought us drastic weather changes, from nice and warm +17C to snowy and freezing -10 and to top it all the fiercely winds blowing at 120km/hr. These drastic weather fluctuations can cause a lot of damage to your roof where damaged parts of your roof could finally break down completely and you could find yourself with extra damaged areas as well.

Now with the snow off your roof for a while the shingles are visible and it’s the best time to get a professional assessment.

The assessment could bring to light few results , e.g.:

Your roof is in good conditions
You need a repair and you should be fine for few years
You need a repair and you must get a new roof in the coming spring
You need to get a new roof right now, you won’t make it through this winter

Roof leaks can occur for a variety of reasons. They typically start out small and grow over time to be larger problems. That said, even a small roof leak can cause major damage to your home. Besides forming wet stain spots on your finished ceilings, roof leaks can cause mold and mildew growth and rot. They even can cause electrical shorts.

Roof Leaks & Damages - Basic Precautions Can Save You Thousands

Your home is your castle and usually your most valuable asset. Problems with your roof system can cause roof leaks and major damage, or increase your energy costs if not discovered early. The Enemy: Water.

Your roof is a complex waterproofing system. Each part of the system has the potential to cause either roof leaks, excess moisture, or both, which can lead to a variety of problems, including:

Structural damage.

The presence of water can rot wood and even eat and destroy nails and other fasteners.

Blistering or peeling of exterior finishes.

Paint, stucco, and siding may all be damaged from excess moisture inside your home.

Damage to inside walls.

Wallpaper may start to peel and even drywall can be weakened or ruined.

Damage to flooring.

We all know what water can do to carpets and hardwood flooring.

Mould.

Roof leaks and moisture can even cause health problems. You may not even realize you have a mould problem until you start experiencing health-related

issues, like problems breathing.

Energy costs.

Moisture in the attic can reduce the effectiveness of your attic insulation. Even a slight increase in moisture content can have a major effect on your heating and cooling bills.

Prevent Roof Leaks and Avoid Major Repairs

A leaking roof can cause significant damage to your home. Preventing a roof leak is your best defense, but you should also be sure to repair roof leaks as soon as they are discovered.

Warning Signs

Regular roof inspections can detect the telltale signs of problems before they lead to major damage.

Roof Flashing Leaks

Most leaks are caused by improper flashing around roof penetrations like chimneys or skylights.

Chimney Leaks

Chimney leaks can often be traced back to a poor initial installation of chimney flashing.

Skylight Leaks

Like chimney leaks, skylight leaks are also often caused by improper flashing.

Mould Damage

Undetected leaks can cause mould growth that can lead to many health issues.

Roof Maintenance