The summer months in Ottawa might not feel like they did in the past. More intense heat, and less social gatherings. But that doesn’t mean you can overlook the importance of prepping your roof for the Canadian weather, either. One thing that hasn’t changed is that your roof takes a beating in the summer, be it from the sun or the weather or winds causing trees to scrape across it. That is why you should take some steps to maintain your roof and prepare it for the Ottawa summer.
Relevant: How To Prepare Your Roof For Summer
Check For Leaking
Since summertime means rain, you want to check for any leaks that could have happened during the winter freeze-thaw cycle. Otherwise, you might wind up with extensive water damage in the attic or along the ceiling and walls of your home. Search for shingles or tiles that are cracked, missing, torn, or curling. You should also seek out areas on the roof that are concave or where nails and other fasteners are missing, since such places are prone to damage.
Replace or Repair Damaged Shingles
Addressing damage is paramount. You cannot leave cracks and missing shingles for long, not when summertime brings with it thunderstorms, humidity, and heat. There are a lot of things that can damage asphalt shingles (and other types of roofing), such as high winds, extreme temperature fluctuations, and heavy impacts.
After checking of leaks, be sure to replace any shingles that cannot be salvaged. If you don’t know how, get in touch with a reputable roofing company near you.
Trim Back Foliage
Sure, those trees and shrubs surrounding your house look gorgeous. But they can also pose a threat to your rooftop. Anything that falls from a tree, be in a slim branch or a whole limb, will cause damages. Keep in mind that, even if it is just a light branch, it can still scrape off shingle granules or puncture the roof.
Trim back branches that hang over the roof and remove any ivy that may be creeping up towards the roof, since it does what moss does—collects moisture and burrows under the shingles, giving space for new leaks.
Clean Gutters
The eavestroughs—gutters—on your house are there for one reason only: to direct water rushing off the roof away from the foundation safely. But when the gutters are clogged up with debris from spring, autumn, and winter, that water might not run. In fact, it could overflow and leak into the exposed edges of the roof or down the edifice of your home, increasing the chance of water damage, mold growth, and dry rot.
So, clean out those gutters of twigs, leaves, mold, and any other gunk that you find. Also make sure the water is moving through the downspout and not backing up.
Make Sure You Have Ventilation
The summer is bound to bring excessive heat, no matter where you are located. Those rising temperatures should be handled easily by your roofing system—unless there are unseen issues. For instance, if you don’t have enough ventilation in the summer, the space above the ceiling or the attic is going to become overwhelmingly hot and humid. You may be able to touch the ceiling and feel the heat radiating from it.
The best way to get ventilation for the summertime is to install it, either through soffit vents or roof ventilation. Ask a professional roofing contractor to help.
Final Thoughts on Summer Roof Preparation
Proper maintenance will extend the lifespan of your roof, but knowing how to ready it for the change of seasons is just as important. Check your roof yourself or hire someone to inspect it. Either way, you will be able to fix problems before summertime’s intense heat and rain makes those issues worse.
Need assistance with roof prep? Have questions about roof maintenance and inspection? Give us a call.
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