With winter just around the corner in Rhode Island, homeowners will soon need to think about what they need to do to keep their home’s protected this winter! When it comes to winter maintenance, most homeowners immediately think about their windows & doors, in an effort to keep their home energy efficient. However, perhaps even more important, is keeping your roof well-protected! Interested in learning a bit more about what you should be doing to protect your home’s roof this winter? Keep reading below for a few tips!

Inspect Your Roof

The first thing you should do is have your roof inspected before the snowfall begins. If there are any issues with your roof, the winter will expose them, and it could cause a significant amount of damage to your roof! Have a professional come to assess the integrity of roof, checking for any broken shingles, leaks, or damaged flashing. This will ensure that when the snow begins to fall, your roof will be ready to handle it!

Make Sure Your Attic Is Properly Ventilated

One thing that many homeowners don’t know is that ventilating your attic properly can significantly reduce, or completely eliminate, any ice dam issues you may have! Since ice dams are formed when the air beneath your shingles is warmer than the snow, by properly ventilating your attic, you can limit the formation of ice dams by stopping the snow on your roof from melting! This is essential for homeowners who tend to deal with ice dams during the winter months!

Clear The Snow

Another tip for homeowners looking to protect their homes is to clear of snow as it settles on your roof. If ice dams tend to be an issue for your home, you can limit their formation by removing the snow, ensuring it can’t melt and create any ice dams. Simply get a roof rake to remove the snow and keep your roof protected!

Clear Debris

Lastly, before the snowfall begins, be sure to clear of debris from your roof to keep the system protected. Whether it freezes to your roof, or ends up in your gutters, debris can cause damage, so if you’re trying to protect your roof this winter, remove any debris before the snowfall begins!

Contact Us Today

If you need assistance with your roof replacement needs this winter, our team at Rhode Island Slate Roofing is ready to assist! Reach out to our team today by calling us at (401) 255-2003 or by filling out our team’s online contact form! We look forward to assisting with your installation needs!

Any homeowner who lives in a region of the country that experiences cold winter weather knows that winterizing the exterior of a house is extremely important. If you fail to take certain steps during the late summer or autumn months, you could find yourself facing a world of trouble in the springtime. It’s much easier to winterize properly than to deal with damage after it has already been done!

This guide will specifically teach you how to get your roof ready for wintertime. Taking a few minutes to learn what you can do to protect this important part of your home during the coldest months of the year is a responsible choice that will pay off in the end. Hopefully, you will learn something new as you read, but even if you already know all of these tips, a refresher course is always useful!

Winterization Tip #1: Start the process early.

The earlier you begin getting the outside of your home ready for winter, the easier it will be to complete all the tasks you want to. Sometimes, especially if the first freeze comes early, projects you intended to finish don’t get done, to the detriment of your home. If you begin getting ready for winter in mid-September in most areas of the country, you should be in good shape. If you live a particularly northerly region, you might want to begin winterizing even earlier.

Winterization Tip #2: Make sure gutters and downspouts are clear.

Your gutter system must be in good working order to prevent your roof from sustaining damage during the wintertime. If leaves, twigs, or any other debris are blocking the flow of water, melting ice and snow will just sit on your roof, ultimately causing potentially serious damage. The best option is to have a professional clean your gutters well at the end of fall, after the last leaves have fallen.

Winterization Tip #3: Trim all trees near your house.

During the winter, tree branches become even heavier than usual due to mounting ice and snow. This can present a major problem if any branches protrude over your roof. Whether they actually fall off onto your roof or simply lay there for months, damage can occur. Make sure all overhanging tree branches are professionally trimmed prior to the first frost.

Keep Your Roof Clear This Winter with Help from Rhode Island Slate Roofing!

These are not difficult tasks and, if you neglect them, you could face lasting damage to your roof that insurance may not cover. Instead of risking that, hire a qualified professional like those found at Rhode Island Slate Roofing to inspect your home’s roof and perform these winterization projects. You will be glad you did! For more information about us and our available services, contact us today!

When the cold weather arrives, it brings a whole new set of home maintenance complications.  Your roof is particularly susceptible because it can quickly accumulate piles of snow and ice.  These have the potential to cause damage if left unattended. Below we’ll discuss some of the most common roofing issues and why you need to address them:

Ice Dams

Ice dams form when heat escapes through your roof, slowly thawing the snow that was sitting at the top of your roof, which then rolls down the roof and re-freezes when it reaches the roof’s edge where the temperature is lower.  This process carries on all winter until eventually, a large barrier of ice has formed which the melted snow further up the roof where it stays liquid because the heat from the roof keeps it melted.  Having water sitting on your roof in this manner can cause significant damage, particularly if your roof doesn’t have an ice and water barrier installed far enough up the roof deck. If you notice ice dams forming on your roof, be sure to address them as soon as possible before they cause water damage to your roof, attic, and ceiling.

Icicles

While knocking them down is a favorite winter pastime for kids, icicles can be dangerous and cause damage to your roof, as well as people and pets.  To protect yourself and your roof, ensure to safely break down any icicles that form and be sure to clean out your gutters to discourage icicles from being able to form.

Wind

While the biggest danger from a Nor’easter is certainly all the snow it brings, the high winds that pair with it can also cause damage to your roof.  If your roof edges were not properly installed, or the starter shingles lost their adhesive, a strong gust of wind could easily begin to dismantle your roof.  A strong roof starts with the edges, so it is important to ensure that the edges of your roof are properly installed to mitigate any major damage from those pesky Nor’easters.

Call Today

If you are looking for Maintenance & repair work, or you’re in need of a new roof entirely, be sure to reach out to Rhode Island slate roofing! Contact us today for more information about us and our available services!

Every few winters in New England it seems there is a wild ice storm. Most notably in recent memory he had the ice storm of 2008. The damage was in the 2 to 2.5 billions of dollars range in New England and homes lost power for days to weeks in certain areas. A lot of the damage was to personal property. Homeowners themselves experienced devastation, especially around their roofs. We know ice storms and ice build up causes ice dams and other damage. But how should you inspect your roof after an ice storm specially? Lets look at a few steps to see if you need to call an experienced roofing contractor.

Be Careful

First and foremost, if you are going to be inspecting your roof without the help of a roofing contractor, be extremely careful. Obviously, ice is slippery. The ground surface could also be trick as well depending on how much snow and ice is built up. Try to clear the area where your ladder is going to be as much as possible. Have a spotter to hold your ladder as well.

Inspect The Metal

The metal on your roof is known as the flashing, vents, or exhaust caps. Depending on the size of the ice in the storm, the flashing could be severely damaged. You want your flashing to be “flush” with the roof to prevent leaking. If your flashing is banged up a bunch, leaving an uneven surface, this is warning sign number 1 your roof needs some repair work. Additionally, while you are up there, look at any HVAC components that may be attached to your roof.  You may need to call 2 contractors depending on the severity of damage.

Shingle Inspections & Bruises

Shingle bruises are a sign of ice damage. These bruises can create cracks that will allow water to seep in your roof and attic.  Any easy way to spot this is displaced shingles. If the storm wasn’t as severe, take a close look at many shingles. See cracks in them? Sign number 2 your need a roof repair.

Windows

Lastly, if you have any sky windows in your house, you’ll need to carefully inspect these too. Check for broken panes, vinyl trim, or window glazing. If you see any cracks or warping, you’ll want to get this taken care of ASAP. This is an especially vulnerable area that could lead to a puddle in your living room!

Remember, Rhode Island Slate Roofing are the experts at everything roofing. Serving Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts.