Finding a certified, licensed roofing contractor you can trust in Farmington Hills, Michigan is no easy feat. You pride yourself in keeping up your home or business, and want it to be in exceptional condition. Have you noticed loose or curling shingles lately on your roof? Is there a leak near your attic that may be coming from the roof? If so, it’s time to get your roof checked ASAP by a reputable roofing company such as Twelve Oaks Roofing. We are your friendly, neighborhood roofing contractor located conveniently in Novi, MI. Owned by a hands on, military veteran, our company specializes in tear offs, re-roofs, roof shoveling, roofing repairs, new roof installation, protective roof coatings, roof ice dam removal, skylight installation and repair, protective roof coatings, roof inspections, and roof ventilation and upgrades. We proudly serve communities all across the state including West Bloomfield, Farmington, Walled Lake, Wixom, South Lyon, and Northville, Michigan.
Offering a ton of perks such as lifetime warrantee on all new roofs, 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back, and one day installation in most instances, Twelve Oaks Roofing is a top-rated customer pick in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
We also offer:
- 24/7 Emergency Response Roofing Team on call, year round
- Military veteran discounts
- Complimentary roofing inspections and estimates
- Affordable financing options and payment plans
- Lots of styles to choose from, including traditional, metal, and flat roofing
Your property is the best investment you own, so it makes sense to protect it by ensuring your roof is free of holes, leaks, wear and tear, and other types of problems such as wind damage, hail damage, water damage, snow damage, and ice damage. An inferior roof will end up costing you a fortune in the long run, so scheduling regular roof maintenance checks are important.
We are fully endorsed by the best in the business – GAF, and CertainTeed, and our roofing experts receive yearly training to update them in the latest industry techniques. Give us a call today at 248-525-6950 to schedule your free residential or commercial roofing inspection. Find out what all the fuss is about, and why our customers voted us the #1 roofing company in Farmington Hills, Michigan last year. Be sure to check out our website at www.twelveoaksroofing.com, follow Twelve Oaks Roofing on Twitter and Facebook to learn about upcoming discounts and promotions.
Everyone familiar with Michigan knows that the winters are no joke here. Michigan winters are notorious for heavy snowfall and immense winter storms. This is one of the reasons why roofers play an important role, even during their industry off-season. While it’s true that roofers do the most repair and installation work during the warm months, the winter is a time of emergency calls and icy repairs. These services are necessary to keep every Michigan family safe during the harsh winters. A leaky roof loses heat and allows in moisture which is dangerous for more than just the home structure.
As roofers in Farmington Hills, Michigan, we would like to help prevent as many roofing emergencies as possible this year. The best way to maintain the protection of your roof this winter is to take good care of it and remain vigilant during the icy months. Farmington Hills residents and your surrounding neighbors don’t have to worry about emergency roofing repairs this winter, as long as you’re ready to protect your roof and catch the earliest signs of roof damage before an emergency occurs.
Let’s dive into the best ways to prevent winter roof damage, respond to winter roof damage, and what to do in an emergency.
Preparing Your Roof for Winter
As the days get colder, it’s helpful to turn some attention to your roof when the weather is clear. Knowing that the great winter storms are coming, naturally, you want your roof in the best possible condition to face the approaching winter. Taking some or all of the following steps will prevent potential roof damage and ensure your roof is in good shape.
1. Brush Off Autumn Leaves
Use a long-handled broom to brush piles of leaves off the roof.
Things that fall tend to pile on your roof. This is true for both leaves and snow. Unfortunately, both piles of leaves and piles of snow are bad news for your roof’s integrity. Leaves, though they may have started dry, trap moisture. A pile of leaves stays put instead of blowing away because it has a core of composting damp leaves in the center. Once a plie of leaves has been rained on, it becomes a roofing hazard.
That trapped moisture begins to seep into the shingles. First it softens the shingles and can potentially go on to rot the underlayment and beams beneath. So it’s a good idea to clear away leaves that pile on your roof before snow adds to the problem or the piles sit all winter.
2. Trim Back the Tree Branches
Cut back large tree branches so they don’t overhang your roof.
In the summer, tree branches offer shade which lowers your AC use. In the winter, however, tree branches over your roof are a break-and-fall risk. There are actually two ways that a growing tree branch can come crashing through your roof or, at the very least, shattering shingles. The first is heavy snow. Enough snow piles on an extended tree branch and it may snap. even if it just drops snow, damage can be done.
The second way is wind blowing so hard during the winter storms that the tree branch breaks and falls above your roof. Either possibility can lead to roof damage at a bad time for repairs. Farmington, MI homeowners should all consider trimming back any trees that hang directly over rooftops.
3. Clear the Gutters
Clean out your home gutters and drain spouts so snowmelt can flow freely.
Gutters are often a problem during the winter, especially gutters that are still full of autumn leaves. It’s important for any precipitation, including snowmelt, to be able to flow off your roof and safely down your gutters. If the gutters are blocked by leaves, sticks, or ice then that flow can’t happen and damage can occur. Blocked gutters can result in water damage or the gutters becoming so heavy that they break off and damage the roof.
Simply put on a pair of gloves and scoop out your gutters. Make sure the drain spouts are clear and consider a gutter-screen.
4. Check Attic Ventilation
Have your attic ventilation checked and make sure all vents are open.
Ventilation in your attic matters much more than many realize. The flow of warm air up through your attic actually helps to keep the roof warm and melt away snow that piles up. Uneven ventilation can result in hot-spots and cool-spots that can be quite bad for the roof. Warm roof areas can result in extra melt while cool areas may allow freezing and snow buildup.
5. Insulate the Attic
Improve the insulation in your attic by adding more or evening it out.
The insulation in your attic works together with the ventilation to keep the temperature even throughout the attic. Insulation ensures that heat doesn’t escape the attic beyond warming the underside of the roof. Insulation also helps to prevent the attic from making the rest of the house cold from the frigid temperatures above your roof. Add more insulation if you see bare patches or have your insulation professionally updated and increased this year.
6. Get a Roof Inspection
Have your roof inspected before the winter storms begin.
One of the best things you can do for your roof is to call for a preemptive roof inspection from local Farmington Hills roofing contractors. After all, you want to know if your roof has any weaknesses before it’s put to the test this winter. Small flaws and minor damage that was no problem during the mild warmer months can become the root of a bigger problem during the winter storms and long months of snowfall. A roof inspection will either give you peace of mind, confident your roof is in good repair, or warning on repairs that should be done before the next storm.
7. Take Care of Minor Roof Repairs
Schedule any needed repairs after your inspection.
If the inspection reveals that there is some damage or wear-and-tear on your roof, then you have time to make it right. Schedule for repairs as soon as you can so that these currently minor flaws in your roof won’t have a chance to become major flaws. Broken shingles and loose flashing can be made much worse in the oncoming poor weather, or when buried under snow for months.
8. Replace Sealant and Inspect Flashing
Take steps to seal or reseal your roof.
The sealant and flashing are the elements of your roof that prevent leaks around the shingles. Where the shingles encounter windows or roof features like chimneys and vents, you need a combination of flashing and sealant to keep moisture from leaking through. Never underestimate the importance of flashing. Ask your roofing team to take an extra close look at your flashing and replace any sealant or flashing that has come loose.
9. Inspect the Chimney from the Top-Down
Make sure your chimney is in good shape before lighting winter fires.
The chimney is an important part of many Michigan homes, as wood-burning stoves and fireplaces are both popular and useful during the winter. You need to confirm that your flue is in good condition and that your chimney is in good repair before lighting the first of your winter fires. Especially considering that your chimney catches the brunt of rooftop wind during the stormy season. Ask your roofers to perform a chimney inspection from the top-down to confirm that your chimney is still sturdy and uncracked.
Winter Roof Care Tips
Once the winter has begun, keeping an eye on your roof is the best way to avoid a roofing emergency. Except in extreme cases, you can usually catch and even prevent winter roof damage with vigilance and a few simple maintenance steps.
1. Brush Off Piled Snow
Us a long-handled broom to brush piled snow from your roof.
We already talked about the risk of piled damp leaves. Piled snow poses a similar risk to your roof, trapping moisture in the center that melts and re-freezes many times over. The trouble is that the outer layer of ice freezes solid and the pile does not move on. Good insulation and ventilation in the attic can help discourage snow from piling up, but you may need to take the manual approach. Use a long-handled broom or a roof-brush made for the purpose to safely pull snow from your roof and prevent it from piling long-term.
2. Clear Gutter Ice Dams
Remove ice dams from your gutter before they become too heavy.
Icicles are only charming when they are very small or you don’t know what they can do. Icicles form when ice melts and re-freezes over and over, dripping and freezing at the point. A long row of ice doing this is called an ice dam and they can form in a surprising number of dangerous places. The most common place for ice dams is over your gutters where rooftop snow melts off the edge and freezes. Over time, ice dams become heavy and can actually cause damage to your roof and gutter.
Ice dams form heavy ice ridges that can tear off gutters, loosen roof shingles, and prevent water and snow from running properly off your roof. Attic ventilation and roof cleaning can both help prevent ice dams. A quick-fix includes pantyhose filled along the length with de-icer and hung vertically over the gutter. It will slowly dispense deicer and melt a gap in the ice dam.
3. Watch for Attic Damp and Ice Dams
Inspect your attic for signs of moisture and ice dams regularly.
Check your attic periodically. Look for signs of roof damage or moisture problems. If you see sunlight, call roofers. Likewise, if you see signs of dripping moisture, seeping moisture, or ice dams forming inside your attic. Ice dams inside the attic means two things. First, that your attic is freezing and second, that moisture is somehow coming in through your roof. This is a problem that will need solving, but it’s not an emergency yet.
4. Get an Inspection After Bad Storms
Make sure each storm has left your roof intact.
Your roof is put to the test when storms blow through. High-speed winds can rip off shingles and even dislodge bricks in your chimney and vent caps. Blowing debris can scrape the roof and hail can bombard it. Sleet and snow create dangerous moisture that can find its way through. All of these things combined can result in roof damage over the winter even if your roof was in excellent shape at the end of autumn.
Every time a bad storm blows through, it’s smart to call your Farmington Hills roofers to perform an inspection. They’ll either give you the all-clear or help you repair any storm-caused roof damages.
What to Do in a Winter Roof Emergency
Finally, there’s the question of winter roofing emergencies. What if a winter storm does serious damage to your roof, or a tree branch falls through your roof in the dead of winter? Don’t worry. the Allpoint Roofing team is here to ensure your Farmington Hills home is safe and will see emergency roof repairs as soon as the weather clears.
1. Signs of Winter Roof Trouble
How do you know if your roof has suffered serious damage? Often, a quick check of the attic will tell you. If you can see light, snow, ice, or significant moisture in your attic, then damage has occurred. If it looks like your roof has been impacted, if you can see broken shingles, or if your roof has buckled under the snow, then you need emergency repairs. Also, maintain awareness if your roof seems to become a source of cold drafts when the wind blows. This can be another sign of winter roof damage.
2. Emergency Winter Roofing Services in Farmington Hills
If you need emergency roofing services this winter, look no further than Allpoint Construction . As roofers serving homes in Farmington Hills, we will schedule the inspections and emergency winter repairs that you need to keep your home and family safe this winter. No matter the season, you can count on ALLPOINT to provide the roofing services you need.