Melbourne is a beautiful place to reside. It’s riotous street art and breathtaking wildlife makes it one of the world’s greatest cities. It is widely known for its varying climatic conditions. For most of the year, the city’s weather is wet.
Winter is not something unheard of in Melbourne. The residents are indeed accustomed to the cold weather.
Winter is characterized by massive amounts of snow, water, and ice. Snow is beautiful and offers an appealing background for your Christmas picture collection. Unfortunately, these elements are also detrimental to our roofs. The snow can quickly accumulate in our roof, causing unnecessary strain and pressure. Additionally, the sudden drop in temperatures can cause our roofs to bow, crack, or in severe cases, collapse.
It is important to perform regular roof inspections. That way, a homeowner can catch roof damages before they escalate to unimaginable levels that might be life-threatening. Once breakages, leaks, and other damage are caught, there is a need for homeowners to seek roof restoration despite the season.
Roof restoration in winter
Contrary to popular belief, winter is a good time to perform roof restorations. Furthermore, it is unrealistic to wait until the summer is your roof has some problems and requires immediate repair or replacement.
Below are some of the tips for a successful roof replacement project during winter.
- Go for a reputable roof replacement company
Roof replacement is not a project that can be undertaken by inexperienced individuals or as a DIY project. Roofing is a sensitive endeavor and should be treated as such. While it might be tempting to consider saving contractor costs, undertaking a roofing replacement by yourself is dangerous as it put your life and that of your loved ones in danger.
Seeking the services of roof replacement experts is imperative. Not only do they possess roofing experience, but they are also well conversant with the challenges likely to be faced with roof restoration during the winter season. Since the construction industry has a myriad of roofing options, they will consider all factors and offer the most suitable roofing solution for you.
For a reputable roof restoration company, visit https://easternmelbourneroofing.com.au.
- Choose the right roofing option
Unfortunately, not all roofing types will work well in winter. A good example is Asphalt.
Asphalt roofing is not ideal for installation during the winter season. The reason being, asphalt shingles have self-sealing adhesives that are activated by warm temperatures, most commonly, sunlight. So, due to the extreme cold weather conditions in winter, the adhesive will not bond the shingles together. As a result, the roofing will most likely start falling off or get blown away.
On the other hand, metal is a roofing option that is installed all-year-round.
- Aesthetics
In this case, we are talking about the color of the roof.
A majority of homeowners are oblivious to the fact that roof color is more than an aesthetic.
When choosing roof color, go for one that is of a darker shade. Studies show that darker colors absorb a considerable amount of heat. That is, they are better heat absorbers as compared to light-colored roofing options. Thus, when a homeowner installs dark-colored roofs, the absorbed heat helps in melting the ice.
- Install snow guards
Accumulated snow can have devastating effects on our roofs. However, as much as we want to get rid of the settled snow as fast as possible, it is recommended that it be done in moderation. The reason for this is to prevent a roof avalanche.
A roof avalanche is the quick release of snow from the roof. When this happens, the released snow could cause massive damage to things such as plumbing vents that might be below the roof. It is also harmful to people and pets.
As such, consider purchasing snow guards before doing a roof replacement. Snow guards are structures that prevent accumulated snow from falling off the roof at once. They allow the snow to fall off the roof in small bits or when it has completely melted. To facilitate the melting of the ice, homeowners can install heating cables on the roof. Last but not least, consider installing snow guards in high-traffic areas around your house.
- Install roof decks
Homeowners with metal roofing already have roof decks installed. However, in the case of a post-frame building, installing roof decks is highly recommended. The reason being, roof decks require an underlayment that is instrumental in ice dam protection.
Roof maintenance during the winter
Since we are now aware of roof replacement tips to factor in during the winter, it is only fair to discuss maintenance tips that will ensure your newly installed roof serves you for a lifetime.
On that note, below are roof maintenance tips for the winter season.
- Snow removal
To ensure the longevity of your new roof, ensure you make a habit of regularly removing snow from the roof.
As much as snow on the roof is picture-perfect, it can cause severe damage to your roof. Ice that extensively sits on the roof melts, creating an ice dam. This is rarely a problem. However, when temperatures drop again, the water in and around the gutter re-freezes. If you shingles installed, they might loosen, causing leakages.
Also, when snow builds up on your roof, they put extra strain on your roof which might lead to a collapse.
- Have regular roof inspections
Regular roof inspections are a great way to keep your roof in optimal conditions. However, experts advise that this action be done long before the winter season.
The roof inspector should look for signs of wear and tear, weaknesses, leakages, faulty vents, and many others.
Additionally, make sure the gutters are cleared of debris that may be accumulated during fall.
- Insulate your attic
The importance of insulating your attic cannot be downplayed.
Attic insulation goes a long way in warming up your house during the winter season. Also, it goes a long way in preventing the formation of ice dams that occur due to the melting and refreezing cycle.