Winchester's charming historical architecture and picturesque setting require particular roof weatherproofing solutions. The city's unique climate presents several roof weatherproofing challenges. One is the lovely, but potentially harmful, rainy weather that can last for days or weeks. Another is the genuine snowfall we can get in winter, which can hang on rooftops and cause ice dams to form. Yet another is the wind that sometimes rushes down the narrow streets and around the buildings here. All three of these weather types exert steady energy on the roof over a long period of time. To guard against all three, a roof must be well insulated, but much more. It also has to be constructed in a way that diverts water to the "wet side" of the roof without allowing too much of it to get there in the first place. Water could, of course, come in through the shingles wet side or could be wind-driven hard enough to come in through the shingles down side.
Sealants are the second essential tool for ensuring a roof is weatherproof. Membrane systems typically have to be sealed together to function correctly. Sealants are used for that, obviously, but not just for that. In many situations, the use of a sealant may be just as important as the use of a membrane, or even more so. And in a place like Winchester, with its unique weather conditions, it's crucial to use high-quality sealants. Otherwise, all the stress on a roof during heavy rains could make it leak. And regular inspections—saying roof is about to die rather than saying roof has died—help to obviate that kind of problem.
Another very important facet of effective roof weatherproofing in Winchester is the gutter system. It is vital that the gutters be installed and maintained properly if they are to perform their primary function: directing water away from the roof and foundation. If the gutters are doing their job, you shouldn't be able to tell if there are any eaves or rakes on your house; they should look like one continuous, sloped surface from the edge to the peak. You should be able to look down the gutter and see that the face has "steps." If you can't, the gutter is not really functioning at peak performance. And if the gutters are doing their job, any water that hits the roof should not get anywhere near the foundation. Choosing materials makes a difference, too. Aluminum or steel gutters have a good track record in Winchester; vinyl gutters do not.
