An annual roof inspection is one of those things that always makes it onto the to-do list but doesn’t always actually happen.

But here’s the thing – your roof is one of the most important and vulnerable parts of your home. It’s what takes the brunt force of the worst weather and keeps your family safe and warm.

So, if you’ve heard about annual inspections but haven’t committed to calling anyone up yet, here are seven ways annual roof inspections will make your life much easier.

7 Reasons Why You Should Get Annual Roof Inspections

1. Hello, Clean Gutters

While gutter cleanings aren’t always part of a routine roof inspection, if you’re going to have your roofer come out, you might as well have them clean the gutters for you! It will hardly take any time for a professional, and the small amount you’ll pay is nothing compared to how much you’ll dread doing it yourself. Clean gutters mean a healthy house, and if you’re not the one who has to clean the gutters, life is good.

2. You Can Save Money in the Long Run

An annual roof inspection can save you thousands of dollars in the long run. By having a professional roofer up there checking for any problem areas, you can avoid costly, major repairs. The more often your roofer inspects your roof, the more likely they are to catch minor issues before they turn into big ones. A missing or curled shingle now is hardly a significant expense, but if left unfixed, you could be looking at repair costs in the thousands down the road.

3. Your Family Will Stay Healthy

A faulty or leaking roof can breed some bad, unhealthy problems – the worst is mold. Mold spores can get into your lungs and the lungs of your family members, visitors, and pets. An annual roof inspection will show if mold is forming and can help you get a handle on it before it spreads and becomes a health and air quality issue for your family.

4. Major Damage Can Be Prevented

One of the biggest problems associated with a faulty roof is water damage. Unfortunately, water damage can be very expensive to repair when not caught early enough. Without an annual roof inspection, you’re unlikely to notice water damage until it begins physically leaking through the roof. 

This is bad because, at that point, the water damage will already be extensive within your attic and the subroofing that holds your shingles in place. That means significant repairs at a major cost to you, not to mention the erosion and damage that water can cause to the exterior of your home as well. Annual roof inspections can identify small leaks just as they form, which means you have the opportunity to fix them before they get worse.

5. The Roof’s Lifespan Increases

If you’ve read the above reasons to get an annual roof inspection, it will come as no surprise when we say that regular inspections can extend the life of your roofs. That’s because you’re nipping minor problems in the bud before they get larger and more costly to repair. The fewer large-scale repairs you have to do, the longer your roof will last. That’s some major savings, considering that re-roofing can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000.

6. Insurance Claims Are Easier

Annual roof inspections also make filing claims with your insurance provider much easier. When you show that you’ve performed all necessary regular maintenance, and through no fault of your own, a tree fell through your roof, they’re more likely to give you the claim money you need to make repairs. Plus, all the reports from your roofer over the years will show them that you’ve worked to maintain your roof, which will help them determine what damages they should cover and which, if any, were pre-existing.

7. Peace of Mind

Finally, annual roof inspections can provide peace of mind. When you know that your roof is in good shape and you’ve done everything possible to preserve it, you can rest easy knowing your family is kept safe. That peace of mind alone can go a long way in making your daily life much easier.

Schedule Your Annual Inspection With Werner Roofing Today!

If you haven’t already scheduled regular roof inspections but would like to start, get in touch with Werner Roofing. A trusted, local West Michigan roofer, we’re here to help you ensure your home and roof are safe and sound for years to come. To schedule your annual inspection, call our office at 616-844-5382 or contact us online today!

If you need to know how to get rid of ice dams safely, Werner Roofing is here to help. Check out our step-by-step guide below. 

What Are Ice Dams?

An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms on the edge of your roof. The ice accumulation blocks the melting snow farther up on your roof from sliding off, causing it to leak through your roof and into the insulation.

If left to their own devices, ice dams can cause significant water damage to your home, destroy gutter systems, and be costly to repair once spring finally shows up. If your home is prone to ice dams, it’s in your best interest to get ahead of them before snowfall builds up, making it impossible to counteract their harmful effects.

How To Get Rid of Ice Dams Safely: 5 Helpful Tricks

While the only long-term solution to ice dams is to have your roofer repair the ventilation or insulation issues within your roof, there are some ways to solve the problem until you can get your roof fixed permanently. 

Important Note: Do not try to hack or chip away at existing ice dams. Not only is this harmful to your roof and gutters, but you’ll also most likely cause more damage by trying to break up the ice with a shovel or ice pick than you are to get rid of ice dams. 

1. Heated Cables

Heated cables are a fantastic fix for ice dams because they essentially stop them from forming in the first place. Place the heated cables in a zigzag pattern vertically on your roof and watch as they melt snow before it even has a chance to freeze and create ice dams.

Heated cables can easily be attached to the roof with clips; the only kicker is you have to ensure you get them in place before the first snowfall. 

2. Blow Cold Air Through Your Attic

When the hot air in your home rises through the roof, snow on the roof will melt and slide down until it reaches the cold edges of your roof, where it will stay and become an ice dam. One effective way to combat this from happening is by pointing fans directly at your roof in the attic, where the problem originates. 

When you cool down the underside of your roof, snow won’t melt in the first place, and ice dams can be prevented from forming. 

3. Rake Snow From Your Roof

Another preventative measure for ice dams is to get rid of the snow on your roof before it has a chance to melt. While this involves a bit of manual labor on your part, it’s a small price to pay for keeping your roof in one piece.

Raking snow from your roof will keep ice dams from forming, but you’ll need to be careful. Purchase a rake specially made to take snow off roofs, and take care not to damage shingles in the process. Most roof rakes are on wheels to protect shingles and are long enough that you can pull the snow off from the safety of the ground. So long as you get out there after every snowfall, your roof will be safe from ice dams.

4. Calcium Chloride Deicer

Deicing your roof is a very effective way to melt ice dams after they’ve already formed. It’s important to remember, though, if you use calcium chloride to deice your roof, you’ll want to protect any plants below the gutters, as they’ll die from overexposure to the chemical.

To effectively deice your roof, fill a nylon stocking with calcium chloride and throw the sock up on the roof so that it lays perpendicular to the edge of your roof. You may need to use a rake or long-handled broom to get the stocking into the correct position, but once it’s up there, you’ll start to see ice dams disappear.

5. Call a Roofing Professional

If you’re not sure you can deal with ice dams effectively on your own, know that you can always call a professional. Most methods for getting rid of ice dams are strenuous and require a bit of time in the frigid Michigan winter weather, so if you’re just not up to that this winter, don’t hesitate to call your local roofing professional. 

The professionals at Werner Roofing will come out and get rid of any existing ice dams for you and set up a solution to keep them away until you have time to fix the roof permanently.

How To Stop Ice Dams From Forming

While these solutions are all great temporary fixes, it’s important to remember that the only way to stop ice dams in their tracks is to get your roof fixed. If they’ve formed once, you’ll encounter them again. 

Whether you’re lacking insulation or your roof isn’t properly ventilated, at some point, you’ll need to call a professional to get your roof fixed permanently so that ice dams don’t form in the first place.

Werner Roofing Is Here To Help.

If you’ve got ice dams, but aren’t sure what the best method for removal is, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Werner Roofing. We’d be happy to help clear them off your roof. If you’re interested in long-term methods of preventing ice dams from forming, we can do that too! Just give us a call at 616-844-5382 or request a free initial estimate online today.

Roof Protection from Rain: 4 Proactive Steps to Take

Many homeowners don’t think about maintaining their roofs until it’s too late and a leaking or flooding disaster has already struck. In order to protect your roof from rain, it’s important to be proactive. Here’s what you can (and should!) do: 

1. Complete Any Necessary Roof Repairs

If your roof is in need of repair, it’s not likely to hold up well against rain. And as more leaks accumulate, you’ll find yourself overwhelmed with costly, devastating damages. That’s why it’s important to complete any necessary roof repairs as soon as possible.

Some possible damages you may look for include:

• Torn, dented, warped, or missing shingles
• Leaks
• Underlying structural damage
• Clogged, sagging, loose, or dented gutters
• Cracked flashing

Once you’ve identified a problem with your roof, you have a choice to make: repair it or replace it. This decision may depend on a few factors, including the extent of the damage, flexibility of your budget, and length of time you expect to live in your home. You may contact a local roofing professional to bring some expertise that could help guide your decision. 

2. Ensure Gutters Are Functioning Properly

Gutters are one of the most important parts of a roofing system, helping direct rain away from your home. Therefore, it’s important to make sure they’re functioning properly.

Generally speaking, gutters regularly need to be cleaned out. Any sticks, debris, or other materials that pile up in them can cause them to clog and overflow, defeating their purpose. You should also check for any leaking, sagging, loose, or improperly sloped gutters that aren’t doing the work you need them to do. 

If you notice that your home doesn’t have gutters, you might wonder if you’re missing some much-needed rain protection. The short answer is, you probably are. While some homes don’t have gutters for particular reasons, most homes in Michigan need gutters. You should contact a local roofing professional to schedule a gutter installation soon. It’s sure to pay off in the long run! 

3. Inspect Flashing Around Skylights

Skylights are capable of adding tons of natural light to your home, making it look more open and bright. However, skylights are also leak hazards, presenting more places for rainwater to seep into your home. Any openings between your skylight and roofing materials can be at risk for leakage. 

That’s why it’s important to install roof flashing around your skylights, or to check it for damage if you’ve already installed it. If you find any cracks or damage, get them fixed by a professional as soon as possible. 

4. Schedule a Professional Roof Inspection

The best way to ensure your roof is in top condition is to have a licensed professional inspect it. They’ll take a look at the interior and exterior of your roof, inspecting any and all of its components — from shingles, to gutters, to weatherproofing. It’s recommended that you schedule a roof inspection every year to ensure any issues are promptly addressed — and there’s no better time to do it than after winter snow has taken its toll and spring/summer rains start to pour down. 

At Werner Roofing, we’re proud to offer free roof inspections for every client. We’ll come out to your home, examine the condition of your roof, and prepare a document that states anything in need of repair or replacement. We’ll advocate for you and your home’s best interests, but we won’t recommend or sell anything that isn’t necessary. That’s our promise. 

If your roof needs extra protection from rain and other unpredictable weather conditions, Werner Roofing can help. Our experts will provide customized recommendations for how you can keep your roof durable and leak-free with various waterproofing and rain management systems. Give us a call at (616) 844-5382 or contact us online for more information.