A Roof Contractor's Guide to Winter-proofing Your Home
Winter has arrived in all its snow-laden glory in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A typical winter in Tulsa sees a lot more ice than snow and that presents roofing contractors with some unique challenges.
Before the weather gets any colder, winterproof your roof with the following tips.
Inspect the Gutters
During winters it is a common occurrence for the water in the gutters to freeze. When this happens you will find icicles hanging off your roof.
Subsequently an ice dam forms on the lower edges of the roof and prevents the snowmelt from flowing out.
In either case, whether the ice is frozen or not the weight is too much for the roof to support.
The gutters start to sag and eventually will collapse.
When faced with a similar situation, you can either try melting the ice using calcium chloride or roof melt tablets. You can also try breaking the ice into chunks and then remove it.
Remove The Snow
After a snowstorm when you find your roof blanketed under a layer of snow you need to compromise the christmassy charm and summon your shovels. Snow is deceptively heavy and letting it rest on your roof might turn out to be a costly mistake.
When the snow melts during the day, it finds its way inside the shingles and then at night when it refreezes the shingles are pushed apart causing damage to the roofing structure.
Insulate Your Attic
Winters in Tulsa also require you to install insulation in your attics. They reduce the chances of an ice dam forming. Attics are also the point of maximum heat loss in a house in winter, so insulating your attic preserves the toasty warmth of your home.
Trim The Tree Branches
Snow-capped treetops are romantic to watch, but their romanticism will be knocked off if one of those snow-laden branches land on you. Not only are they unsafe to bypassers, the branches are also a danger to your roof. A larger branch will completely demolish your roof while the smaller ones can lead to holes or dents which damage the shingles.
Need Roofing Contractors in Tulsa?
The perils of winterizing your roof are many. From removing the snow to breaking down the ice dam, it is all fairly risky with the right equipment and skill. Hire a professional roofing contractor from Elliott roofing to help you with the task. Elliott roofing has the best professionals that provide you with appropriate roofing solutions.