Inspect your roof for winter storm damage in Brewster, NY

4/17/2018 (Permalink)

As the winter has come to a close, it is time to attend to some of the damage winter storms have done to your home.  In particular, your roof may have taken a beating from all of the snow and wind. With the snow and ice having melted off of the roof of your Kent, NY home, now is a good time to inspect it for damages. 

Tree limbs. Check out the trees around your house. Look for any limbs that may be touching the roof. Tree limbs can reduce the lifespan of your shingles by scraping them.  Have tree limbs that are of concern cut back. This will also assist in inhibiting moss growth on your roof since the sunlight hitting the roof will dry out any moisture.  

Leaves, branches and evergreen needles Remove any that have accumulated on the roof. Mildew can form on your roof as a result of wet piles on the roof which hold moisture. You can use a roof rake or leaf blower to clear the roof.  

Inspect for mold –Mold, algae and fungi can eat away at your roofing material and in time cause leaks. There are products at a home improvement store formulated for exterior sanitation. We advise against using a power washer on roofs, as they can damage shingles.  

Ice dam damage – If you noticed icicles forming on your roof this winter, it's possible that you had ice dams. These can lift and damage shingles. Inspect roofing for any signs that water made it's way under the shingles.  

Gutter damage - Check to see if there are any missing or loose  pieces to your gutters and that they are sitting securely along the roofline. Also make sure that they are not clogged with leaf and twig debris.  

Missing shingles, chimney, and flashing -Winds from snowstorms can rip pieces off of your roof. Check for missing shingles and  flashing. Also inspect your chimney cap to make sure that it is in place and secure.  

Inspecting your roof now will reduce the likelihood of you discovering water or mold due to roof malfunction later on. If you do discover that a leaking roof has caused mold in your Putnam County home, call SERVPRO at (845) 228-1090.