How to Help Prevent Emergency Roof Repairs

We think every homeowner in Ottawa and the surrounding cities and towns will agree on one thing. There’s been a noticeable difference in how much damage they suffer from bad weather in recent years.

Even if it’s just more downed twigs and branches than before, it’s worse. But, at the other end of the spectrum, many homeowners have suffered more serious damage, especially to their roofs. Damage that they didn’t expect, and damage that means they need emergency roof repairs.

4 Tips for Avoiding Emergency Roof Repairs

First, there’s nothing you can do to absolutely guarantee that you’ll never need an emergency roof repair. But the following tips are some of the best things you can do to avoid needing roofing repairs anytime.

1. Pay More Attention to Your Roof – Since that it is the only thing between them and rain, snow, wind and storms, homeowners rarely give a thought to their roofs. But, if you want to minimize your chances of water dripping into your living room at the height of a storm, you should regularly check your roof. This includes checking your asphalt roofing shingles (safely, from the ground) for curled corners, cracks, broken shingles, missing shingles or raised shingles. All of them could allow water into your home when it rains or during snowmelt in the spring. 
2. Check Your Attic – As often as you inspect your roof, you should also go up into your attic to look for signs of roofing leaks. If you see any daylight coming through the roof, moisture, mold or mildew growth, they could be due to a leak in your roof. 
3. Keep Your Eavestroughs Clean – Your eavestroughs channel water away from your roof and home. So keeping them clean and unclogged of dirt, leaves and twigs is a great way to keep your house dry in all types of weather. 
4. Trim Overhanging Branches – Heavy winds can cause branches that are near your roof or eavestroughs to swing violently, or even break off. If they happen to strike your roof in either case, it can cause significant damage.

If you see roofing damage that you think might result in emergency roofing repairs, it’s important to find a reputable roofing company to do a professional roof inspection and any repairs that are needed. Learn more in our article “Choosing the Right Roofing Contractor”.