Helpful Roofing Upgrades to Consider
When you are happy with the roofing system you have, that doesn't mean there isn't room for upgrades. By improving certain aspects of your roof, you protect your home, have long-lasting roofing materials, and can even increase your home's value. Consider some of these helpful roofing upgrades.
Improve Your Roofing Ventilation
The first thing you should do when you want to upgrade your roof is improving upon the ventilation you have. If you have had issues with your roof getting too hot from the attic, you might be dealing with ventilation issues. Even if your HVAC unit is on inside your home, your attic should not cause the roof to get hot. This can cause ice dams when snow on your roof melts from the heat, then drips to the edge of the roof, where it re-freezes since it is still below freezing out. If you had good ventilation, this wouldn't happen. Check the quantity and quality of your roof vents. Large roofs need multiple vents, so if you only have one or two, you probably don't have enough for the size of your roof. You might also need ridge vents or soffit vents installed. A roofing contractor can let you know if you have proper ventilation or if needs to be upgraded.
Get Low-Maintenance Gutters
You should also consider upgrading your rain gutters. If you find yourself constantly having to clean out the gutters, it is probably time for some new ones. Gutters can often collect dirt, debris, leaves, and twigs, which keep rainwater from draining properly off the roof. If it sits in the gutters, it can create a lot of excess weight, which might cause the gutters to sag and crack. To avoid having to clean them out often, consider seamless rain gutters. These allow debris to flow down the gutters much more easily without getting caught in the different seams. They are custom-made, so they cost a little more but don't require cleaning them out as much.
Install New Roofing Tiles or Shingles
While this will cost you a little more, you might want to consider having new roofing tiles or shingles installed. Inspect your current roofing materials to check for wear and tear, rotting, cracks, or other types of damage. They might be old and in need of being replaced, or the materials might not be good for your climate conditions. If you live somewhere that gets extreme weather conditions and heavy winds, durable materials like clay and slate are often preferred over metal or asphalt.