With winter approaching and another difficult winter forecasted for this year, you should be thinking about whether or not your roof is ready for the season. Though your sweaters and boots may be prepared for snow, the shingles and construction above your head may not be able to handle the precipitation.
A New Roof or Just a Replacement, the Sooner the Better
Your roof goes through a lot of wear and tear in one year alone, so imagine what state it must be in if you’ve had it standing for close to the average lifespan, or 20-25 years. Though summer and even fall are the ideal times to replace a roof before the winter season, it’s better too late than never to at least do an inspection to check the state of things and give yourself (hopefully) some peace of mind. Unless snow is piled high on it already, there’s still time enough for a consultation!
Consider basic safety; if you want to take a cursory look over the state of the roof, it’s much easier when not freezing and coated in ice. Snow itself obviously covers any pre-existing damage, such as missing shingles, making it impossible for you to get a clear assessment once it’s there. Even if it melts and allows for a real view, by then, ice dams could be forming that only complicated whatever issues may have been there before.
Examine the structure now before all that becomes a problem. If caught in time, structures such as flashing can be installed in order to prevent future cold-weather complications. Many symptoms can be detected form the inside, such as sagging or leaking. Others can be viewed from the ground, like misshapen gutters or broken shingles. Others still will require a trip to the roof, so if yours is particularly high or perilous, make sure to hire a professional who has the safety equipment to make the trip.
If it seems that you’ll need a complete replacement, think hard before deciding whether or not to put it off until spring. It may be a gamble getting underway this late in the game, but it may end up more detrimental and costly in the long run to put it off and chance extensive winter damage. Speak with your roofing professionals, gather advice and recommendations, examine your own finances, and then make the decision that’s best for your family and home. There is rarely a one-size-fits-all answer for home maintenance as there are a lot of factors that should go into these decisions.
Winter weather is an annual occurrence but it doesn’t have to be a annual headache. For advice, services, or for a free estimate for your roof, get in touch with Cox Roofing today.
Cox Roofing:
Cox Roofing is a full-service, certified roofing contractor providing residential and commercial roofing services to the state of Maryland, with particular focus on Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Harford County and Howard County. We pride ourselves on our personalized service which transforms your property into the residence or business of your dreams. Get in touch for your free estimate today.
