Wintertime in Florida is known for its relatively cool, dry weather. This makes Florida’s homeowners fortunate in that they don’t experience the same roof issues that homeowners in other states experience throughout the winter months (e.g. ice dams, icicles, heavy snowfalls). Instead, winter is one of the best times of the year for your roofing when it comes to wear and tear. After all, you’ve already survived the hurricane season’s strong winds and the heavy rains that severe storms bring with them. You’ve also survived the summer’s humidity which is known for causing condensation issues. However, there are still some roof issues that Florida homeowners must be aware of throughout the wintertime.
Ensuring the Integrity of Your Roofing
The dry weather means you’ll also have a dry roof. This is a good time to examine your roofing to see if there are any roof issues that were caused throughout the rainy season. If you have a tile roof on your home, use caution when walking on it so that you don’t cause damage as you search for cracked or missing tiles. However, if you have an asphalt shingle roof, you’ll want to not only search for curling or cracked shingles, but also for a lot of loose or missing granules. If you find these then it’s possible that your roof has started to degrade. Regardless of what type of roof issues you discover, the winter is the best time to hire a roofing company to come out and apply a sealant to help shore up your roof’s integrity so that it’ll last longer.
Dealing with Insulation Issues
Insulation is something you’ll want to check, especially if your roof is leaking, has condensation, or if your home is more than a few years old. Having enough insulation in your home is important because your air conditioner is already working diligently to keep your home cool, you don’t want it to have to work any harder. (If you don’t know how much insulation your attic should contain, make sure you talk to a roofing company about it.) This is also the best way to ensure that you don’t have any critters up in your attic stealing your insulation to use in their nests. When you replace your old, damp, compacted insulation with new insulation you’ll have confidence that the cool air from your air conditioner will stay in your home where it belongs next summer.
Checking on Your Gutters’ Health
Throughout the summer months, your gutters are responsible for transporting large amounts of rainwater. When they become blocked or damaged the water will start flowing slower or it may even become backed up. This causes your gutters to grow heavy and start sagging. Take time this winter to clean and repair them. Make sure water isn’t leaking out of them because this can lead to damage in your home’s foundation, interior walls, or landscaping.
Conclusion
Although Florida doesn’t deal with traditional winter roof issues, your roof must still be maintained so that it stays in good condition. Wintertime is the best time to inspect and maintain your roofing and the attic that lies beneath it. Now that you know more about the top three roof issues your home may be suffering from, isn’t it time to hire a roofing company to come out and check to make sure your home doesn’t have these issues before they turn into a big problem for you? Done Rite Insulation has many years of experience providing homeowners with high-quality insulation services. Contact us today to get the answers you need to have your insulation Done Rite!
