Ways to Improve the Roof Over Your Head

Many homeowners never even think about their roofs until major problems occur, and that can be a serious mistake. There are quite a few roof upgrades that could have a major impact on your family’s comfort as well as your monthly energy bills.

Consider an Airtight Chimney Cap

While most chimneys have some type of basic metal or tile cap, those installations aren’t always the most effective. At some point, a critter could easily make its way into your chimney, and that is going to cause a lot of safety issues. An airtight chimney cap is very easy toinstall, and it is going to keep animals out of your chimney when it isn’t being used. Airtight chimney caps are also much more efficient at maintaining the temperature inside a home.

Install Better Vents

When dozens of homes are being built at once, the designers often don’t spend too much time developing efficient roof ventilation systems. If your roof doesn’t have proper ventilation, then you might notice that your energy bills skyrocket during the hottest months of the year. Upgrading your roof’s ventilation is a relatively easy process that a contractor should be able to carry out within a matter of days.

Replace the Shingles

Those who are considering a major roof overhaul might want to take a closer look at high-efficiency shingles as well. Shingles are your home’s first line of defense against things like harsh UV rays, storms, and high winds. With the environmental beating your shingles are likely taking every time the weather changes, that material is eventually going to become damaged or worn out. High-efficiency shingles will have a huge impact on your heating and cooling bills as well as your family’s overall comfort. While the shingles are being replaced, you can also have the roofing contractor take a look at the underlying support structures to make sure that they aren’t damaged in any way.

Upgrade the Gutters

Your roof’s drainage system could be more important than you realize, and damaged or clogged gutters are going to wreak havoc on your roof as well as the rest of your home. When your roof can’t properly drain, water is going to pool, and that will cause a tremendous amount of damage not only to the gutters and roof, but the inside of your house in a short period of time. In addition to regularly cleaning your rain gutters and downspouts, you can also install screens over them so that debris won’t build up.

These few upgrades are a great start, but homeowners must have their roofs regularly inspected by professional contractors as well. Roof issues can happen in the blink of an eye, and damage needs to be addressed immediately if you want to avoid expensive home repairs.