How Nashville’s Seasonal Changes Impact Your Roof (And How to Protect Your Home)

Nashville is a beautiful place to live. It is a place where booming industry is flavored with a little Southern charm. As far as the weather we get a taste of every season, from hot summers to bitter cold snaps in the winter. While Nashville offers a lot of exciting variety in climate, these seasons can do a number on your roof. Here is a quick walkthrough on what you need to be aware of each season of the year.

How to Prepare Your Roof for a Nashville Winter

Nashville winters can be brutal for a roof. Often times we have at least one solid snow day. The temperatures can get erratic and go up and down in extremely short timeframes. This cycle of freezing and thawing will cause your shingles to crack. Ice dams can also form and prevent water from draining properly. This may result in water going places it’s not supposed to go and cause leaks or other damage.

Roofing Tips for Nashville Winter

1. Make sure your attic is properly insulated. This will prevent warm air from escaping. This can also help melt snow and ice on your roof faster, which will help prevent ice dams.
2. Clear your gutters before winter. If you get ice dams, having debris in your gutters will magnify this problem.
3. Any preventative measures taken for winter can prevent more costly damages down the road.

Your Roof’s Guide to Spring Cleaning

Spring is a great time to assess your roof for any potential damage that may have occurred in the winter. Spring is known for rain in Nashville and fixing your roof before the first heavy rain could save you a lot of trouble down the road.

Roofing Tips for Nashville Spring

1. Check flashing and seals around any penetrations (chimneys, vents, etc). Make sure they are still properly in place. If they are rubber make sure they aren’t brittle.
2. Clean your gutters. The combination of leaves and rainstorms can leave your gutters full of leaves and other debris.
3. Get a maintenance inspection. Preventative inspections will save you down the road, especially due to the heavy rains Nashville gets some years.

Summer Heat and Energy Considerations

Nashville summers can get as hot as our famous chicken at times. This heat can shorten the lifespan of your roof as the materials can deteriorate under the sun’s UV rays. The heat can also cause shingles to curl and expose your roof, making it susceptible to leaks and other damage.

Roofing Tips for Nashville Summer

1. Make sure any vents are not blocked by debris. If too much heat remains trapped in your attic it can cost you on your energy bill and it can damage your roof.
2. Check for curling shingles.
3. Ensure your attic fans are operating correctly. This is another way to prevent heat from building up in your attic.

Fall Debris on Your Roof (and What to Do About It)

Many Nashvillians say our falls are too short, but there is plenty of time for the leaves to accumulate on your roof and clog up your gutters. Having a gutter cleaning at some point during this season is a wise preventative measure.

Roofing Tips for Nashville Fall

1. Regularly check your gutters for debris. The fall season will fill your gutters with leaves. These colorful little barriers will deteriorate, break down and block your gutters. Any water will build up or drain slower than it should which can cause soft spots and rotting if left alone too long.
2. Check your downspouts and make sure water is not hindered when traveling down and away from your house.
3. Check your roof for loose or damaged shingles. The combination of wind and rain during this season can take its toll on your roof. If left unaddressed, you could have some places where water can easily get in.

Nashville has so much to offer. Make sure you stay on top of your maintenance so you can continue to enjoy your slice of paradise in the South with a well-maintained roof over your head.

If you would like an expert roofing company to take care of the maintenance of your roof or would like an inspection, we would love to help. Just give us a call or drop us a line.