Winter is tough on your home’s exterior. As we’re nearing the harshest time of the year in early February, Gutterworks wants to make sure your home is ready to withstand some of the hazards of winter. This winter, meteorologists predict a warmer than average winter with plenty of cold snaps for our area. They’re anticipating a higher than average snowfall due to La Niña. Increased snowfall combined with the type of winter weather expected should prompt you to check on the health of your roof and gutters and make plans for repair or replacement of those systems if they need it.
Heavy snow and ice can take a toll on your roof and your gutters, so as you plan for winter, you want to make sure your systems are in great shape. Most residential roofs should support up to 20 pounds per square foot of snow or ice without becoming compromised, but that can only be expected if they’re in good condition. As your roof ages, that capacity decreases dramatically. The winter season only adds wear and tear to your shingles, so you should be cautious about your roof’s condition entering the cold season.
Winter weather can be rough for your gutters, too! If you have clogs or gutters full of debris, they could collect water (ice!) and snow. The weight pulls your gutters away from your home, opening seams and damaging the gutter structurally. Clogged gutters can also lead to roof damage when ice dams form, pushing water up underneath your shingles. Faulty gutters lead to damaged roofs!
Unfortunately, winter simply isn’t a good time to replace asphalt shingle roofs. Check out our blog here to see why we don’t install roofs in the wintertime. There is good news, however! You don’t have to wait until spring to replace your gutters. Gutterworks installs gutters year-round, even when the temperatures are too cold for roof work. If you’re on the brink of needing a new roof and your gutters are also causing you issues, taking care of your gutter issues now will give your roof the support it needs to make it through the harsh winter weather with minimal damage.
Many homeowners think they need to wait until they replace their roofs to improve or replace their gutters. This is not the case. It may make sense to replace your roof and gutters all at once if you’re already working on one, but it’s not necessary to do them together. In fact, they’re two entirely different systems: your gutters and your roof likely have very different life spans. Most common gutters have an average life span of 20 years, but if you have an asphalt dimensional shingle roof, you can expect it to last 25-28 years. Depending on when each was installed, your needs may vary greatly. Homeowners can and should replace an ailing gutter system in the winter for two reasons: to protect their roofs from ice dams and to protect their foundations from a failure to route water correctly.
If you’re curious about getting a new gutter system, call us at (304)848-9870 to ask about your options and how to ensure you’re getting a quality product that will last a long time and protect your foundation. Let’s work as a team to preserve your home’s integrity from top to bottom!