Spring is all about renewal, from the welcome sound of birds chirping to the reappearance of leaves on the trees. It’s also a sign that it’s time to renew your roof following the ravages of winter storms and ice assaults. But should that renewal include a full-scale replacement, or can you get away with simple repairs? Let’s take a closer look at the issue of springtime re-roofing.
Winter Weather Leads to Spring Surprises
It’s not surprising that so many homeowners ride out the winter before addressing a roof repair. The do-it-yourselfers have no desire to climb up onto an icy roof and work in frigid temperatures, while the formation of solid ice dams can make gutter repair all but impossible.
Unfortunately, any little problems in your roof, such as pinhole leaks in the flashing or roof sheathing, are only likely to grow worse with continued exposure to winter weather, while the weight of the ice dams places your roof under stresses and strains that can result in shingle damage and other problems. The spring thaw then turns that ice into water, and suddenly you’re facing imminent moisture damage and mold formation. So now you need roof work more than ever — but to what extent?
Replace or Repair?
Most of the time, roof repair makes better financial sense than all-out roof replacement. Isolated weaknesses can be patched up quickly — a definite plus if you’re hoping to get your roof back into condition before the spring rains come. But small problems are not always detectable to the untrained eye until they’ve grown into large (and expensive) ones. That’s why you need a professional inspector to examine your roof thoroughly and determine just how many of these little problems are occurring simultaneously. If the roof is seriously compromised in multiple areas, then you’re better off replacing the whole thing in one fell swoop than spending the next several years putting out fires.
The other determining factor is the overall age of the roof. Some materials, notably metal and ceramic, can last for decades with no issues whatsoever. More fragile materials such as asphalt shingles, however, react to weather and temperature changes by curling, cracking, and losing their outer granules. You might be lucky to get 10 years or more out of such a roof. This is another matter that calls for the counsel of a trained roofing specialist.
How the Mass Save Program Can Help
A home energy assessment through the Mass Save Program, currently available through Moonworks, can clarify a lot of issues when you’re looking at repairing or replacing your roof. For one thing, on-site energy assessments can pinpoint exactly where warm air may be drifting up through your attic and contributing to roof problems.
Finding and stopping such issues as early as possible could make all the difference between a few simple repairs now and a complete re-roofing later. Since top-quality copper gutters can cost up to $18 per foot, you may be warned to protect these investments, as well as your roof shingles, from ice dam formation. The simple addition of a Moonworks Heated Helmet could be one of the best things you ever do for your roof.
One thing is certain: You don’t want to subject your roof to another year of seasonal rains, winds, sunlight and heat until you’ve made whatever fixes you need to make. Call Moonworks at 1-800-975-6666 to schedule a Mass Save inspection and develop some smart springtime roof strategies!