It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The holidays mean family, music, presents and, of course, decorations. But don’t damage your roof while decking your halls. Decorating your yard and home for the holiday season is a fun-filled activity but can also be dangerous and hard on your tile roof if you are not careful. While you’re up there, take advantage of the view and peek at a few maintenance issue-prone areas to be sure everything is in tip-top shape.
Below you will find a few tips for taking care of yourself and your roofing system during this season.
1. Don’t Step on Your Roof
This may seem counterintuitive to decorating your home’s exterior, but we always suggest you contact a licensed roofing contractor to do anything that means stepping on roof tiles. This is especially important during the winter months when roofs are subject to excessive moisture and ice. You will stay safe from harm, not to mention it can mean the difference between broken tiles and a well-maintained roof.
2. Don’t Put Holes in Your Structure
Nails, staple guns, hammers, screws. What do these things have in common? They are all very good ways to put holes in things. However, you do not want to put holes in anything having to do with your roof. Clark Griswold could get away with it, you probably can’t. Not only does banging on your roof mean you can break something, holes are excellent ways to let unwanted moisture onto your roof deck causing costly repairs later. There are plenty of temporary options for securing lights like plastic clips you can research instead.
3. Keep an Eye Out for Icicles
While icicles are beautiful and remind us of some of our favorite holiday movies, they can be indicative of ice dams: chunks of ice that form at the edge of a roof under certain winter conditions. An ice dam can damage both your roof and the inside of your home while also putting gutters and downspouts at risk. So, while you’re stringing your lights and finding the perfect spot for your Santa display, make sure you call a licensed roofing contractor to inspect the area if you notice a sudden patch of icicles.
4. Bring a Friend
Perhaps one of the most important pieces of advice when doing anything dangerous or tricky with your home is to make sure you have someone with you while you’re working. Not only does it make things more fun but it also gives you a second pair of eyes for potential issues and another set of hands to secure ladders and other tools.
We hope these tips are helpful. As always, you can visit the Tile Roofing Institute at www.tileroofing.org for tile roof maintenance tips and to search for a certified contractor in your area. You may also contact a knowledgeable Eagle Roofing Products Account Representative at www.eagleroofing.com if you have any questions.
