Is your roof ready for Michigan Winter Ice Dams? 3 ways to prevent your roof form water leaks.

As we head into the winter season, you will have to make sure your home and roof are winter-ready.  Preventing water damage from leaks and winter ice dams will be easy with this quick guide on what to look out for before the first snowfall:

Inspecting the Attic

Before the winter season hits, it is important to inspect the attic.  Because the attic is often seen as the least obvious culprit in resulting a roof leak, it is often overlooked.  However, there are some critical aspects of the attic all homeowners should know and check regularly:

  • Ventilation – The first thing a homeowner should check when inspecting the home for Michigan weather is the attic ventilation. If any vents – such as soffit vents, louvers, or ridge vents – are blocked, it can lead to moisture build-up in wet weather.  This build-up can result in decreased attic insulation functionality, buckled shingles, or rotting rafters.
  • Mold & algae – Other signs to look out for are leaks, moisture build-up, or algae build-up. As mold and algae can easily spread and cause insulation to fail, it is important to check the attic regularly to catch the problem quickly.

Checking for Roof Flashing

Roof flashing is a common source of roof leaks as well.  With roof flashing, the metal or vinyl pieces that connect materials to the roof – such as skylights, chimneys, vents, or the places – becomes loosely fitted, and therefore, not resistant to Michigan elements.

To prevent water from coming into the roof and home, all roof connections must be tightly fitted.  Checking for gaps or holes in the flashing is important to do – especially before winter hits – to make sure your home is secure.  If you are unsure about whether your home is secure, consider hiring a roofing expert to look at the attic and roof flashing.

Looking at the Roof’s Drip Edge

A roof’s drip edge is not only to make the outside of your home look aesthetically pleasing; it also has the important function of keeping water and moisture away from your home.  As you conduct a home inspection to make sure your home is winter-ready, it is important to make sure damages and missing drip edges are taken care of and replaced.

When one of your drip edges is missing, there is a gap between the roof deck and fascia board – a prime area for water to seep in.  This can lead to the wood on your home to rot; and further down the line, moisture can seep into interior walls and ceilings of your home.  Critters also love warm places during the winter, so sealing your home will reduce the number of unwanted friends during long Michigan winters.

If you are in need of an inspection or have a problem that needs to be looked at right away, contact your local roofing company – Herbert Roofing.  No matter what your roofing needs are, our experts are ready to answer your questions and walk you through the process.

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