Roofing in Barrie and Rainfall: What You Need to Know

When Mother Nature rears her head, will your property be able to withstand heavy rain and inclement weather? For roofing in Barrie, heavy rain isn’t unusual — and it’s why it’s so important to ensure that the roof is in good working order. The last thing you want is water penetrating your property from above and an expensive water damage situation on your hands. In this post, we’ll discuss the impact that heavy rainfall can have on your roof and why a well-maintained roof is so important. Here’s a closer look:

How Heavy Rain Impacts Roofing in Barrie

Wood Rot

The main purpose of the roof is to keep rain, snow and other elements from entering your home from above. But if your roof is damaged, then periods of heavy rain may penetrate roof shingles and flashing and damage the wood boards that rest directly underneath them. When this occurs, the wood can rot, jeopardizing the structural integrity of the roof and putting your home at greater risk for significant property damage.

Leaks

If you live in an area that’s subject to heavy amounts of rainfall, then your roof is also much more likely to leak. It underscores the importance of why it’s always a good idea to have your roof professionally inspected at least twice a year, so any small issues can be resolved before they become big issues — and before water starts seeping down from your ceilings.

Flashing Issues

One of the most overlooked areas of the roof is the flashing. Flashing is weather-proof material that is installed around chimneys, vents, skylights and other areas where roof shingles meet anything that may be protruding from or installed in the roof. Essentially, the flashing is designed to seal any gaps between the roof shingles and these objects in the roof so that no water can leak into these more at-risk areas. Unfortunately, flashing doesn’t last forever — and it can be easy to overlook issues during an inspection.

Clogged Gutters, Downspouts

Any roofing in Barrie should have an adequate gutter system so that water runoff can properly occur and rainwater is taken safely away from the home’s foundation. But there are a few crucial key maintenance tips that you need to be adhering to when it comes to gutters. Here’s a look at how to ensure your gutters are assisting your roof as they’re intended to:

Make sure your gutters and downspouts are clear of leaves, branches and other debris so that they can drain properly. Otherwise, rain is likely to create a backlog on the roof or spill over the gutters.
Make sure your gutters are the right size so they can adequately handle rainfall. If your gutters are not wide enough or if there are too few downspouts, then the system may not be able to handle heavy rainfall. In turn, rainwater can spill over your gutters and pool up around the foundation of your home.
Make sure your downspouts distribute water safely away from your property. If you need to, consider downspout extenders to ensure that downspouts distribute water at least 3 feet away from your foundation.