In this blog, we’ll go over our top tips for ensuring your roof and exterior are ready for the prairie winter chill. Whether that’s upgrading to more durable materials, addressing repairs in the offseason, and even inspecting your insulation, our team has compiled our top tips for efficiency, longevity and protection.
...
The severity and unpredictable nature of Calgary winters can stress you out if you’re concerned about the condition of your home’s roofing and siding materials. But when you have a trusted company like Guns N Hoses roofing on your side, you can rest easier.
In this blog, we’ll go over our top tips for ensuring your roof and exterior are ready for the prairie winter chill. Whether that’s upgrading to more durable materials, addressing repairs in the offseason, and even inspecting your insulation, our team has compiled our top tips for efficiency, longevity and protection.
Guns N Hoses has had you covered for 20 years! We’ve serviced thousands of homes in and around Calgary. We’re passionate about your home’s exterior, so you don’t have to think twice about them. Contact us today to schedule your service.
Let’s begin!
Roof Inspections: Your First Line of Defense
Roof inspections are the best way to ensure your home is ready for winter.
You can either do them DIY style by grabbing a ladder and safely climbing up to the roof for a quick visual check for loose or missing shingles, cracked flashing, or holes in your siding.
Guns N Hoses also offers professional inspections and video estimates. You'll know exactly what is going on while we’re up on your roof!
If your roof or shingles need to be replaced, it’s best to get the job done now. While we do provide roofing services year round, it’s best to get your service done before winter hits. Leaks and water damage can occur without your knowledge, negatively affecting the integrity of your roof.
There are a number of hail weather-resistant shingle options available through our expert team.
Impact Resistant Shingles
Impact resistant shingles are also quickly gaining popularity in the Calgary area because they are specifically designed to withstand even the harshest weather conditions including strong winds and, you guessed it, hail.
These shingles are usually made of asphalt mixed with a synthetic, rubber-based polymer called SBS. This makes the shingles not only more durable, but also more flexible. Helping them better withstand our prairie winds, and large hail stones.
Rubber
Rubber shingles are made from 70% recycled tire rubber and may cost more than asphalt. However a locally-manufactured product, like Euroshield rubber roofing, is able to withstand the impact from a steel ball being dropped from 20 feet, so you know hail doesn't stand a chance against your roof.
Eavestroughs, Gutters & Downspouts
Your home’s eavestroughs, gutter and downspout system is responsible for catching and guiding excess water away from your home to ensure your roofing and siding materials don’t get affected by water damage.
Regular cleaning to remove debris and shingle granules not only helps ensure steady drainage, but it also helps prevent a common winter challenge: ice dams.
Ice dams are ridges of ice that form along the edge of your roof that prevent melted snow and ice from draining.
Ventilation & Insulation
Our roofing team are also experts in ventilation and insulation, because we understand how integral they are to the longevity and functionality of your exteriors. Our insulation inspection and replacement process is the best in the business, here is a little bit of what you can expect:
Evaluation
Your personal insulation professional will come to your home and inspect your current attic insulation condition, checking for gaps, inadequate coverage, or areas where insulation may be missing. They’ll also look for signs of moisture damage, mold or pests.
Your insulation professional may also use thermal imaging to evaluate the efficiency of your spaces, identifying areas of heat loss or gain due to insufficient insulation.
Precise measurement of your attic will be taken as well to determine the amount of insulation needed.
Recommendation
You will then be presented with insulation options. Your insulation professional will go over the benefits, R Value and cost effectiveness of each.
All insulation recommendations are thoroughly explained and consider ventilation improvements or moisture barriers to ensure the long-term effectiveness of the insulation and to prevent issues such as condensation and mold growth.
An estimated cost and timeline breakdown will then be provided so you can prepare for installation.
Installation
Once your quote has been approved, our team of certified professionals can get right to work.
Your attic and/or garage will be cleaned and cleared of obstructions and debris, and we’ll address any moisture or pest issues.
Your chosen insulation material is then applied throughout your space ensuring proper coverage. Special attention will be paid around vents, rafters and windows to prevent air loss.
Once the installation is complete, your contractor will conduct a final inspection to ensure quality workmanship. We’re proud to offer Leave No Trace Guarantees and year round service, at Guns N Hoses we stand behind our quality products.
Siding Check & Upgrades
Before winter hits, check for cracks, holes or gaps in your vinyl siding where moisture can potentially seep in and freeze, causing damage to not only the material itself, but the underlayment.
We’re proud to offer partial repairs, as well as full siding replacements to address any issue, no matter its size.
If our team recommends a replacement, we’ll provide you with a wide range of material options that can withstand winter temperature and elements, all while matching your home’s aesthetics and your budget.
A few of the most popular choices in the Calgary area are: vinyl, Hardie board, composite and stone veneer.
Vinyl
Vinyl siding is easy to install, comes in a large variety of colours, is durable and is fairly cost effective. Regular maintenance and cleaning is also a breeze. However, it’s worth noting that it can’t always stand up to the severe hail storms that frequent our area. We are often replacing vinyl siding along with roofing after a summer storm.
Hardie Board
The holy grail of siding options. Hardie Board is one of the few products that truly withstands anything Calgary hail storms can throw at it.
Available in:
- HardiePlank lap siding
- HardieShingle siding
- HardiePanel vertical siding
Hardie Board is made up of a fibre-cement material to better protect your home without sacrificing character and style.
Composite & Stone
Composite and stone siding are nice to look at, but they tend to break down and let moisture in leading to rot and damage. We don’t tend to recommend this siding option, especially if you’re looking for a long-term solution.
Final Winter Preparation Checklist
Some final things to cross off your winter preparation list include:
- Prune back any low-hanging tree branches that might snap beneath hefty snow accumulations and harm your shingles.
- Safely pack away or shield patio furniture, garden hoses, and other sensitive outdoor equipment.
- Winterize outdoor spigots by shutting off internal supply valves and draining outdoor taps to avoid frozen, ruptured plumbing.
These tasks will go a long way in ensuring your home’s exterior is well protected this season.
Preparing your home for the winter chill doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By staying proactive with roof inspections, maintaining your gutters, ensuring proper ventilation and insulation, and upgrading to durable siding, you can protect your property from harsh weather and avoid costly emergency repairs.
Contact our expert team at Guns N Hoses today to schedule your winter inspection or consultation and keep your home safe and warm all season long!
Why Choose Guns N Hoses
We take pride in high-quality work you can rely on, this hail season and beyond. We don’t give up until you are satisfied with our services.
Leave No Trace
We’re polite and clean up after ourselves. After we complete your shingle or siding replacement, you’ll never know we were there!
Zero Leaks, Guaranteed!
We ensure your projects are completed quickly, efficiently, and correctly, the first time.
