It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Snow is falling, chestnuts are roasting on the open fire, and Santa is on his way! Unfortunately, the most wonderful time of the year is also the time of year when emergency roofing repair services are at a high.
Between the inclement weather causing sudden roofing damage and well-intended light displays being hung incorrectly, the Farha Roofing team sees an influx of roofing repair services during the winter months.
In order to help protect your home and roof from being in need of our roofing repair services, the Farha Roofing team is sharing our tips with you today. Keep reading below to learn more!
Protecting Your Roof This Holiday Season
The only people allowed to walk on your roof are Santa and your professional roofing contractors!
In the winter there are so many reasons homeowners are tempted to walk on their roofs. Between hanging holiday light displays, trimming overhanging tree branches, and removing heavy snowfall, you’ll see the temptation all around! However, the Farha Roofing team highly advises you avoid doing so as it is one of the leading causes of roofing damage
When you walk on the shingles you risk loosening the granules which will speed up the aging of your roof, increasing the likelihood of necessary roofing repair services this year. You also, of course, run the risk of seriously injuring yourself. In the winter our roofs are often slick and icy, one wrong step might cause you to fall off. Protect your roof and yourself this holiday season, by keeping both feet on the ground.
Recommendation: When Should You Replace the Roof on a Rental Property?
When hanging lights never use nails, always use clips.
Never ever use nails or staples to hang your holiday lights. Doing so is a surefire way to find yourself in desperate need of roofing repair services.
When using nails or staples to attach Christmas lights, you create small holes in your roof which allow water to entrer. This can lead to serious damage, mold, and wood rot overtime. You might be thinking, “Why does it matter, the holes are so small?” Unfortunately, no matter how small the hole, it is still a hole that leaves your roof vulnerable.
If you’ve already hung your holiday lights and used nails or staple guns, don’t panic! Before doing anything else, including taking the lights down, consult with a professional roofing contractor to advise you on next steps.
Regularly clean out your gutters in the winter.
During the holiday season, it is important that you regularly clean and inspect your gutters. Falling leaves, strong winds, and ice can all cause debris to become trapped in your gutters.
This can lead to a number of problems for your guttering and roofing systems including mold and mildew in your gutters from the condensation and a fire hazard from the debris.
Regularly inspecting and cleaning your gutters throughout the holiday and winter months will help to ensure you mitigate this risk.
Be sure to carefully remove your light displays from your home.
Over the years, the Farha Roofing team has completed one too many roofing repair services caused by homeowners who ripped down their holiday light displays at the end of the season, rather than carefully removing them.
We know how tempting it can be to take a shortcut and simply tug your light display down, but doing so (no matter whether you used nails or clips) can cause serious damage to your roof. The force of the pull can cause small tears or punctures in your roof. These small punctures will then allow water to seep in, leading to water damage over time. To avoid this, take your time and remove your light displays gently.
Schedule an inspection at the end of the season!
At the end of the season the Farha Roofing team highly recommends scheduling an inspection with a professional roofing contractor to ensure that roofing repair services are not needed. Even the most careful homeowner may inadvertently damage their roof in the winter months and it is important to have a professional assess your roof and advise on any necessary repairs.
From all of us at Farha Roofing, we wish you a safe, joyful holiday season and a very Happy New Year!