Now that the ice is beginning to thaw, ‘spring cleaning’ may be in order for roofs,
driveways, and decks.
By Matt Schickling
Wire Staff Reporter
While the winter weather left local streets looking more like the surface of the moon, your home shouldn’t have to suffer the same fate. For homeowners, there are precautions and solutions to almost every wintry threat.
And now that the ice is beginning to thaw, an exterior “spring cleaning” may be in order for your roofs, driveways, patios and decks.
Joe Connolly, owner of Joe Connolly Paving, a Warminster business that specializes in residential and commercial asphalt paving through most of Bucks County, offered some advice for noticing and preventing damages in your driveway.
“Severe cracking is the most common thing,” Connolly said. “Water gets in there and accelerates the damage.”
This freeze-thaw weathering is most evident in the scores of potholes left throughout the streets of Bucks and Montgomery counties this winter. While little could be done to halt mother nature’s icy march through the region, there are preventative measures homeowners could take to ensure driveway longevity.
“The best thing to do is seal coat your driveway and have your gutters cleaned so they drain away from the house,” Connolly said. “If it doesn’t drain properly, it can cause some foundation problems.”
Apart from that, Connolly suggests homeowners keep up regular maintenance on their cars as oil and other fluid leaks can contribute to asphalt erosion.
Joe Bertolini, owner and operator of Huntingdon Valley Exteriors, suggests a proactive approach to home maintenance.
“It’s all ice damage really,” Bertolini said. “This has been a record year for repairs.”
And while the damage provides the company with lots of business, Bertolini advises that homeowners remain aware of the potential problems winter weather can cause and plan to protect their homes before the storms hit.
“Everybody should get their roof secured before the winter,” Bertolini said. “Address the matter, don’t let it wait.”
That includes checking for cracks and weak points in the shingles, pipe columns, siding and gutters. When ice forms near the gutters and eaves of a roof, it can cause ice damming, a problem that can lead to damages and leaks. Ice collects in thick ridges along the edge of a roof, and the weight can tear off gutters or warp shingles. Meltwater from the ice dam builds up and leaks through the roof or windows.
Winter weather can also be troublesome when homeowners, especially those in flat-roofed houses, neglect to clear snow from their roofs. The weight and moisture put stress on the roof, which leads to major repair costs, Bertolini said.
Weathering is not the only issue for homeowners: some houses may require some cosmetic maintenance.
“People usually find mold and algae on their siding and roof,” said Joe Cleary, owner of Eclipse Contracting in Warminster. “And they want their decks and patios ready for spring.”
Algae found on the siding of homes is not problematic to the structure of a house, but it’s visually unappealing. Black mold streaking on the roof, however, can harm the structure and needs to be addressed immediately. For this, Cleary recommends a soft wash with water and detergent rather than a high pressure wash.
“High pressure forces water behind siding, can damage stucco or blow out a window seal,” said Cleary. “It can also damage shingles if used on roofs.”
Because of the local climate, algae and mold may be unavoidable, but there are precautions that could limit their presence. By trimming back landscaping and leaving a foot or two of free space around the house, homeowners decrease their chances of discovering mold and algae on the sides of their homes, said Cleary.
Apart from this, maintenance of decks and patios should be carried out before, during and after the winter, including using a protective finish and water repellent, pressure washing and regular sweeping and cleaning.
With these measures in mind, homeowners can ensure that their properties not just endure, but flourish through the temperate months after being pummeled by the bully that was this winter thus far.
