After four long months of long nights, short days, and unpredictable weather, the end of February brings with it the hope that winter is finally coming to an end. And for homeowners everywhere, this means it’s time to start thinking about a spring repair checklist. 

Given how much stress your roof has to withstand during winter, it makes a lot of sense to start there, so to help you inspect every weak spot so you can make sure you aren’t in danger of springing any leaks, here are the essential things you should be on the lookout for. 

Over the course of the winter, your roof can accumulate significant amounts of debris, especially if it is flat or has a low slope. This includes:

• Tree branches

• Leaves

• Plastic 

• Garbage

• Pine needles

This debris can hide damage to the shingles, and also poses a risk to your drainage systems. As soon as the weather gets warm, you should get rid of any waste that has built up over the winter.  

Once the roof is clear, you can start inspecting the shingles themselves for damage. In particular you should keep an eye out for cracked, loose, or punctured shingles, or tears in the seam of flat roofing membranes. 

If you notice extensive damage to your roofing materials, you may need to have sections of the roof repaired or replaced entirely. Should you have any doubts about the state of your roof, get in touch with roofing companies in Ajax who can offer a professional assessment. 

If your home has dormer windows, chimneys, or skylights, these features will be connected to the main roof using flashing. Often made from aluminum, flashing is designed to add a durable extra layer of protection to the weakest parts of the roof. 

Over time, flashing can suffer rust damage, creating space where water can get into the vulnerable joints of your roof, so take your time making sure that all flashing is still in good condition.  

 

Seamsand weak points around plumbing stacks are usually filled in with caulking (caulking is also often used to reinforce flashing). Caulking is usually only good for a few seasons, so make sure to re-seal any areas where the caulking has become loose or no longing filling the gaps.   

Ensuring that water has somewhere to go is one of the most important aspects of roof maintenance. Whether you have a flat or pitched roof, cleaning out drains, gutters, and downspouts so that rainwater can be easily channeled off the roof and away from the house is essential, especially during the rainy months of spring. 

Clogged or damaged eavestroughs and downspouts can cause water to saturate the soil around your home, damaging your foundation and increasing the risk of flooding.  

As winter draws to a close, it can be helpful to get started on your seasonal repair checklist, even if you suspect there are a few snow squalls yet to come. Spotting potential issues early on gives you the time you need to book necessary repairs, and helps ensure that by the time spring rolls around, you can enjoy it properly.