We are very fortunate to be on the west coast in Vancouver, BC during winter, compared to most of Central and Eastern Canada. The power outages and destruction caused by ugly winter weather are things none of us deserve to go through. The good news for us on the west coast is we still have time to get our roofs ready for winter. The problem with winter is that once it comes with freezing temperatures and snowy white outs, roof repairs can be very hard to undergo, if at all, until the ice and snow melts. For this reason, winter roof maintenance and gutter cleaning is so important to address prior to any nasty winter weather. We at Canuck Roofing want to advise home owners of some inexpensive ways to ensure their homes stay warm and dry this winter.
Gutter Cleaning
It is very important to ensure your roof and gutters are properly cleaned so that the excess water coming off your roof proceeds away from your home instead of coming inside. The two most common styles of gutters are exposed continuous aluminum and hidden or built-in gutters. If your gutters happen to get clogged with leafs, pine needles, branches, little Timmy’s hockey ball etc., there is the potential for water to ingress into your home. You should have your roof & gutters cleaned a minimum of once a year depending on the amount of trees surrounding your home.
Along with cleaning your gutters, your roof should be cleaned of all debris including leafs, pine needles, branches etc. A build-up of debris on your roof can cause leaks by forcing water in directions it shouldn’t travel. Common leaks caused by debris build-up such as moss occur around skylights, chimneys and valleys. When it comes to cleaning your gutters you have two choices, hire a professional or the “do it yourself” method (DIY).
Hiring a professional will cost you an average of $150 – $300 depending on the size of your home, number of storeys and accessibility. The DIY method may save you some money if you have the required equipment but you must exercise extreme caution when dealing with heights and ladders. Paying for a professional might save you a trip to the hospital.
Roof Inspection
Along with cleaning your roof and gutters, it is important to do a roof inspection annually. This will prevent materials to prematurely degrade and to fix a potential leak before it causes damage which may come with a large repair bill.
Detecting a potential leak and remediating the situation ahead of time will save you money and stress. A roof leak can take months before you notice the effects coming into your home. A slow leak over time has the potential to rot the roof decking and trusses, cause mold and damage insulation or electrical and eventually drywall, floors etc.
A minor repair ahead of time can save you a lot of money in the long run. When hiring a roofing company for a roof inspection, ask for a written report upon completion. This way you will have a copy for your records with any recommendations for future repairs or possible upgrades.
A roof inspection with a detailed written report will cost you an average of $575 depending on the size of your home or building. If your roof requires immediate repair, or future replacement, a separate estimate is recommended.