Renovating The Oklahoma Office

Renovating The Oklahoma Office For The Winter

Winter can be harsh on your office, especially your roof. About a quarter of the heat in your office is lost through its roof, so protecting your office from the elements like wind, snow, sleet, and hail might be the difference between a warm, comfortable office and a drafty, cold one. Even if you live in a climate where you don’t have to shovel snow, you still need to protect your roof from seasonal hazards. We hired an Oklahoma City roofing company to winterize the rooftop and get us prepared for winter rains and hail storms.

Regular routine check-ups of your roof are essential to maintaining its integrity. The older a roof is, the more work it will probably need, so you will first need to assess the age of your roof. A typical asphalt roof can last up to 20 years, but if you are missing any shingles or you lack insulation, you are losing heat through your roof, and it is costing you money. Another sign your roof is in need of repair is that the shingles are bucking and curling; this will definitely cause problems when winter comes. Watch, too, the valleys of your roof. If they are compromised, your roof may sustain leaks and cause excess damage. When you inspect your roof, or you have a licensed OKC contractor inspect your roof, make sure the flashing on the chimney is watertight, otherwise, this will be another area where water can seep into your office. An obvious sign of a roof problem is sunlight peering through the roof boards. Check your attic during the day for any signs of sunlight and for moisture in your attic; these are clear signs your attic is compromised and must be fixed before the winter sets in.

The best way to protect your office and family from the elements is to ensure the roof is structurally sound before any problems arise. Since heat rises, if your roof has any leaks or holes, the heat is escaping through these spaces, costing you lots of unnecessary money. It is important to check your shingles and to properly fix any lose or missing ones before they cause greater problems. You will also want to look closely at the shingles; over time the granules that compromise the shingles break down and allow sun, wind and snow and even bugs to infiltrate your roof. In addition to an annual assessment of your roof before winter time, you should check your roof after any major storm to determine the damage, if any. Even something as simple as a rainstorm can wreak havoc on your office.

What steps can you take to protect your roof when completing an inspection? Hire a tree cutting service in OKC to make sure the leaves and branches don’t pile up, causing debris to get under the shingles. Check your gutters and drains and remove the bunches of leaves that accumulate; this way water and ice won’t build up on the leaves, making your roof more susceptible to leaks and water damage. Do a thorough inspection of your roof’s trusses to make sure they are able to handle excess weight; in case you compile a lot of snow in winter. If you notice problems with leaks, holes, broken trusses, or wet insulation to name just a few, contact a contractor to rectify the small problem before it becomes a large problem. Addressing the issue before winter is ideal; finding out you have a structural roof problem in the dead of winter will likely be impossible to attend to until spring. By then, the problems could compound, costing you, even more, money than had you taken care of the issues before the bad weather.

While inspecting your chimney may not seem like an important element when assessing your roof, it is something you should check, as well. Check the flashing against the chimney and roof to see if it has cracks or is rusted; this could be an area for leaks. You may also want to have the chimney cleaned to prepare for the cold winter season.

There are many companies who offer an assessment of your office’s internal temperature and the amount of heat and cold that escapes through your windows, doors, and roof. This simple inspection can save you money all year long on energy costs, so it is important to conduct one before the snow and ice make checking out the roof a hazard. This assessment will let you know if your roof is properly insulated and ventilated, two key elements in a “healthy” roof. You may notice that one room in your office is hotter or colder than the others; this could be an insulation issue. When you have an office energy audit, you will be able to determine where your roof is lacking so that you can address how to fix the problem. Simply sealing and insulating your roof may help to eliminate drafts in your office.

You will also want to inspect inside your house for water stains, cracks in the ceiling or walls, or any obvious leaks. A spike in your heating and cooling bills will also be an indication that the heat/cold is escaping, potentially costing you thousands of dollars.

Contact your insurance company to see if they can help you with any expenses. They may pay for a preventative maintenance trip or possibly for some repairs. Each businesses insurance plan is different, so before you invest in costly work, make sure you know what they will cover if anything.

So before the winter winds start blowing, either hop up on that roof or better yet, pay an expert to take a good look at your roof. Remove excess debris and inspect the gutters, flashing, and shingles for any damage. Crawl in the attic space during the day to look for signs of daylight; if sunlight can get through, so can rain, snow and other undesirables. Check your trusses to make sure they are secure and your insulation for wet spots and potential problems. Assess your office from the inside to see if you have drafty spots in your office or signs of roof damage from the inside. Remember, the money you invest now in your roof will save you money on your energy bills all throughout the year!

Karen Baker January 3, 2018