The holiday season is here, and for many homeowners, that means it's time to kick the Christmas and other holiday decorations into overdrive. If your family regularly installed lights or other decorations up on the roof or hangs anything from the gutters, it's important to proceed with caution. Here are some residential roofing tips to keep in mind in order to ensure your roof makes it through to the New Year and stands prepared for the winter weather ahead.
It's Not Too Late for a Pre-Winter Roof Inspection
First things first, it's important to note that while it's cold in most places across the country, by the time the holidays arrive, the official start of the winter season doesn't actually arrive until just before Christmas. That means that the worst weather, including snowstorms, is still to come in most areas across the nation. The holiday season is your last chance to get your roof fully inspected by a residential roofing contractor before the arrival of additional snow and ice will make things difficult. Schedule your inspection now and go into the New Year with peace of mind.
Be Careful Where Those Staples Are Going and Stay Away From Nails
If your holiday decorations will include putting lights up on the roof or gutter or adding additional holiday installations, you will of course want to make sure everything is secure up there, but you don't want to damage the roof shingles or the gutter in the process. Stay away from nails, as even a seasoned pro is likely to make a mistake and put a hole into the roof that will eventually turn into a leak. Even your trusty stapler should be used with caution to ensure that you don't accidentally give winter air an opening into your home.
Be Aware of What's In and Around the Gutters and Be Prepared to Move Decorations If a Snowstorm is Coming
Hanging a bunch of decorations from your gutters might look cute, but what won't be cute is a clog or leak that damages your house's foundation because some of those decorations are obstructing the roof and gutter's ability to properly drain water after a rain or snowstorm. If you catch wind of an incoming storm, consider pulling any significant decorations that you have on top of the roof itself. If something gets caught in a gust of wind and falls over, it could hurt someone below or cause property damage to your roof or some other part of your house.
