Most homeowners know that the roof protects their home from the evils of water damage. But are you aware of how the roofing system protects all of the other systems that keep your home’s exterior safe from stormy weather, pests, and water damage?
Protects the Landscaping
Landscaping defines your outdoor space, boosts curb appeal, and filters pollutants from the surrounding air. The roof, including the gutters and downspouts, ensure water is properly drained from the roof and safely deposited where it won’t drown flowerbeds, create root rot, or cause serious soil erosion.
Protects the Foundation
The gutters, part of the roofing system, collect the runoff from the roof and channel it to the downspouts. Without a gutter system, rainwater and melting snow would drop down from the roof directly into the ground where it would pool around the foundation. Saturated soil can shift, affecting the structure of your home when the foundation sinks further into the ground and/or begins cracking.
Protects the Siding
Siding is an important part of your building’s envelope. It is subjected to sun, wind, and rain. The roof’s overhang provides some protection from the elements, reducing the amount of sun, wind, and rain/snow the siding is exposed to. The overhang can act as a buffer in a storm, keeping a certain amount of debris and small broken branches away from the siding. An optimally functioning gutter system prevents water from getting in behind siding panels, resulting in mold and wood rot.
Protects the Attic
Soffits, another part of a roofing system, help circulate air in the attic. When air circulates, moisture isn’t allowed to accumulate, creating an environment for mold to grow in the insulation of the attic walls.
Even if mold doesn’t form, wet insulation doesn’t perform efficiently, reducing its ability to consistently regulate the temperature in the attic. Without proper airflow, heat will build up – this can cause snow on the roof to melt and freeze, forming ice dams.
Protects from Critter Invasions
Now that fall is here, pests such as squirrels, rats and mice and insects look for a warm place in preparation for winter. A well-maintained roof keeps critters from making the attic, insulation, and other parts of your home’s interior from becoming a nesting ground.
Protects from Air Escaping
A roof that’s in tiptop shape will prevent cool air from escaping your home in the summer and losing heat in the winter. When your furnace and air conditioner aren’t overworked by heating and cooling the outdoors, you’re saving money and the environment.
