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Season Proofing Your Roofing in Northern Virginia & Southern Maryland

Sep 20, 2013 11:15:00 AM

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The roofing system of your Northern Virginia or Southern Maryland home endures the elements all year long, such as incessant UV rays, debris accumulation and strong seasonal (and unseasonable) storms with high winds and rain or heavy snow and ice. 

roof

The integrity of your roofing system depends, first, on superior installation and, second, on regular inspections and care to prevent unnecessary wear and roofing repairs. To provide proper care and to season proof your roofing system, it’s helpful to understand the components and systems of which a healthy roofing system is comprised.

Roofing systems: outside and inside

Your roofing system is much more complex than the shingles, shakes or tiles you see from the outside. The roofing system is comprised of coexistent systems, each dependent upon the performance of the next to protect your home, possessions and occupants from the elements. These are the systems and basic components of the typical roofing system:

  • Roofing materials – shingles, shakes or tiles, underlayment, flashing, decking, rafters, trusses and fascia.

  • Gutter system – gutters, seams, straps, screens, downspouts and scuppers (for low-slope and flat roofs).

  • Attic – ventilation, insulation and sealing (caulk, spray-foam and weather-stripping).

Shingles, shakes and tiles

Regardless of the materials of which your shingles, shakes or tiles are manufactured, they are much like the proverbial links in a chain. If one shingle or tile is missing or damaged, it provides a gateway for water and wind to create additional damage. Oftentimes, the entirety of a roof is not visible from ground level, meaning that any damage which occurs in these blind spots can create expensive damage. Moreover, debris accumulation can hold water on the roof which, over time, may cause damage, too.

The gutter system

One inch of rainfall amounts to nearly 2,000 gallons of water streaming off the eaves. An efficient gutter system is required to protect the roofing materials, landscaping, home interior and a home's foundation  from water damage. Moreover, standing water in the gutters or on landscaping due to leaky, damaged or inefficient gutters provides a sustainable environment for insects and bacteria, which could infiltrate the home, too. These are some of the characteristics which define a poor and inefficient gutter system:

  • Rust, holes and dents which cause leaking.

  • Sagging gutters.

  • Debris accumulation in the gutters or downspouts.

  • Poor drainage from the downspouts.

  • Loose or detached straps and/or gutter seams.

Got batts in the attic?

The condition of the attic plays a significant role in the health of a roofing system. An attic needs unrestricted ventilation to prevent excessive heat and subsequent damage and aging during the cooling months, and ventilation helps prevent ice dams on the roof during the heating months from temperature differences between the attic and outside temperature. 

Efficient sealing and ample insulation are needed to prevent the conduction and transfer of heat between the attic and living spaces. Insulation batts and rolls are efficient choices for homeowners, as well as caulking, spray foam and weather-stripping to seal holes and leaks created by the many protrusions in the typical attic (flue/chimney, pipes, ductwork, electrical wiring, recessed lighting, etc.). 

Roofing repair and care

Effective season proofing of your roofing in your Northern Virginia home requires regular care and professional preventive maintenance. Call your contractor for an inspection of your entire roofing system (roofing materials, gutters and attic). In addition to a roofing inspection, have your gutter system and roofing cleaned of any debris, especially if you have not performed preventive care in recent years. 

If you are in need of roofing repairs or preventive maintenance, contact the roofing experts at Exterior Medics today. 

 

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Image Credit: erix!