The North Lake Tahoe Basin certainly has some cold winters with snowfall beginning in October. As snow builds up on the roof, it adds strain due to the weight and can even lead to mold and water damage. There are a few steps that can help prevent roof damage during the long winter. Nickerson Roofing will share what steps you can take to prepare your roof for the upcoming winter which will help prevent roof damage or even total roof collapse.
What is Involved in a Roof Inspection?
Before the winter season really begins, it is often recommended to get the roof inspected to insure there aren’t any problems that need addressing before the snow begins to fall. If the roof doesn’t have proper support or ventilation, the roof will be at risk come winter. Roofing inspections don’t need to happen every year but should be done every three to five year to ensure integrity. During a roof inspection, the roof exterior and interior structure is inspected for damages or weaknesses. The attic insulation and ventilation is also inspected to insure proper efficiency. By inspecting the roof in the fall and before the winter snow begins to fall, you can help prevent major roof damage during the winter.
Find Any Roof Leaks
As a roofing inspector often won’t inspect inside the home, the homeowner should check their ceiling for signs of water damage. Yellow stain spots often indicate a leak that may be coming from the roof. If you notice the leaks you can show the spot to the roofing inspector to determine if the leaks are coming from the roof. Ceiling leaks are due to either a rook leak, HVAC leak, or plumbing leak. However, most pipes don’t run through the ceiling, with the exception of multi-story homes. When the roof sits directly over the ceiling and spots occur, then you should be concerned about a roof leak. If roof leaks are discovered, they should be repaired before winter.
Roof & Gutter Cleaning
For the homeowner in Greater Truckee, CA, it is important to clean out the gutters as well as the roof of all leaves and debris. Leaves can absorb and hold moisture which allows bacteria, mold or mildew to spawn. Gutters must allow melting snow to flow away from the home and off the roof with ease. Gutter cleaning is essential maintenance that should occur during the fall season. Make sure to clear out falling leaves, bird nests or other debris that can clog the gutter system. Again, the roof also should be cleared of all debris and prevent moisture accumulation and excessive weight which can cause the roof to collapse.
Heat Cables Ice Dam Prevention
Ice dam prevention helps to prevent ice from building up around the edges of the roof. The long spears of ice can be very dangerous, and many homeowners look for ways to prevent them from building up. There are a number of solutions that can help reduce and prevent icicles from dangling from your roof. Some methods come by adding additional insulation to keep the inside of the attic warmer. You can also reroute the exhaust ventilation from the kitchen and bathrooms to go through the wall and roof to help keep them warmer and melt the ice before it builds up. Nickerson Roofing offers heat tracing design and heat trace cable installation as well as metal roof skirting ice dam prevention solutions.
Roofing Inspection, Heat Tracing Design & Heat Trace Cable Installation, Metal Roof Skirting Ice Dam Prevention & More in Truckee, Mystic, Tahoe City, Kings Beach & The North Lake Tahoe Basin of California
If you need help preparing your home’s roof for the upcoming winter season, contact Nickerson Roofing for all of your roofing needs.
