Mark Katona Roofing Presents Helpful Tips to Winterize Roofs in PA

Save Money & Save Your Roof with Helpful Advice from Experienced Roofers

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) December 06, 2012

Prepping for the winter is known as winterization. Those in the Midwest and New England, certainly know what it is all about. The cost of keeping homes warm during these next few months can be painful. Needing any sort of home-based repairs while the sleet and snow is coming down is not any fun either. Properly carrying out some basic winterization techniques can save you a lot in the long and the short run.

Check Those Gutters

This is one of the easiest tasks when it comes to winterizing a roof, and it is probably the one most everyone is familiar with. The gutters that run along the edge of a roof and down the side can easily become clogged with twigs, seeds, and leaves through the changing seasons. Homeowners will want to be sure to clean out the gutters. To do this, use a hose and make sure everything flows like it should. Pay attention to see if there are any leaks or cracks. Any disruption in the water flow through the gutters is going to cause a problem. This will cause water to accumulate, freeze, and further damage the gutters. This then runs the chance of the gutters pulling away from the roof and house, possibly exposing untreated areas to the elements.

Make Sure the Attic is Ventilated Properly

With attics, especially those that have things such as a heating unit or water heater, this is even more important. As the cold air circulates around the home, it can build up inside the attic, especially as ice and snow piles up on top of the roof. Without proper ventilation, that cold air is going to become a problem, dramatically increasing heating costs. Any pipes running in that same area can become frozen. Without proper air circulation, heaters and water heaters having trouble such as pilot lights going out otherwise and failing to perform properly.

Clean off the Roof

This one should go without saying. Unfortunately, with so many years in roofing in PA, Mark Katona Roofing knows that it is important to remind people of this often overlooked detail. It is necessary to clean the debris off a roof. It can be accumulated pollen, leaves, twigs, seedlings, and other such items that got tossed around during the warmer months. One of the easiest ways, especially for shingled roofs, is to take a hose to the top of the roof and then spray water at a downward angle. These foreign objects on the roof can cause water to travel in unintended paths, which can lead to moisture and ice building up in unprotected areas such as under the shingles. During cleaning, the roof can and should be inspected look for missing, damaged, or discolored shingles, which need to be replaced as quickly as possible. These are the outer protection of the roof and very important to keep maintained. If shingles are not properly maintained, the rest of the roof is not going to last anywhere near as long as it should.

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Mark Katona Roofing Presents Helpful Tips to Winterize Roofs in PA