How to Protect your Roof from Catastrophe

July 9, 2015 Guest Post

Dealing with routine roofing repairs should be planned on by homeowners annually. However, certain regions of the country are prone to more serious roofing catastrophes than other areas. What should you do if you live in an extreme cold climate where snow and ice can cause a roof to cave in? How can you protect your roof during a hurricane and other serious windstorms? Here are some measures you can take to help ensure your roof is safe during a catastrophe.

Change Roofing Materials
If you live in an area with high winds, use concrete tiles as roofing materials. Concrete roofing materials are strong and can withstand wind, ice, fire, and other conditions. If you plan on using concrete tiles, you’ll need additional support within the attic for the extra weight. Another roofing option to consider is metal roofing. Metal does a great job protecting against snow and ice, as it simply slides right off. This makes it easier to protect your home from damage as the weight of the ice and snow will not stay on the roof for long, preventing cave-ins from occurring.

Make Repairs
When protecting a roof, it’s important to make sure the roof deck is correctly sealed. You need to tape the seams between the deck sheeting to have additional protection from the wind, rain, and snow. If you have a shingle roof, repair or replace any missing and cracked shingles. Loose shingles will easily fly off the home during a windstorm. A single loose shingle can cause a ripple effect, causing additional shingles to fly off the home as well.

Snow Weights
Do you know what weight your roof is capable of withstanding? Ice and snow can easily accumulate on a roof that has a flat section, which can cause a lot of strain to the roof. You may need to remove some of the snow to help prevent your roof from collapsing. Use a snow rake with an extension arm to remove the snow as you stand on the ground. Never climb onto a roof that has snow and ice on it as you can easily slip and fall. You can also contact a snow removal contractor to take care of heavy snow that puts your home in danger of a roofing collapse.

Remove Greenery
Trees that hang over a roof can cause problems. Leaves may often fall onto the roof, causing the gutters and downspouts to become clogged. Clogged gutters and downspouts can cause ice to buildup on the roof. This can easily create cave-ins as the weight of the ice is too much for the roof to bear. Trimming back the trees can keep the leaves from falling onto the roof. It will also keep the branches from hanging over the roof, which can easily fall onto the roof during a windstorm or due to heavy snow.

Hurricane Straps
If you live in an area where hurricanes are common, protect your roof with some secure hurricane straps. These straps will make sure the roof is correctly bolted to the rest of the home. Hire professionals to inspect your roof for signs of damage and weakness.

This article was written by Jared Miret, husband and home handyman. He also recommends that you click here for a Texas Windstorm inspection, to assure your roof will withstand a storm.