What Did Winter Do to Your House? Exterior Maintenance Tips for Spring

Apr 24, 2023

As Wisconsin’s weather gets even more erratic, roads aren’t the only thing breaking up. The rapid freeze-thaw cycles are also wreaking havoc on your home’s siding and roofing, and the snow, ice, and high winds haven’t done your house any favors. J&B Construction has exterior maintenance tips for spring that will help determine if repair or replacement is necessary.

Spring Roofing Maintenance

Winter compromises shingles, gutters, downspouts, flashing, soffit, and fascia more than any other season in Wisconsin.

“Most roof damage begins before anyone on the ground can see it,” said J&B owner Scott Cline. “That’s why a spring roof inspection is so important for maintaining your roof. We get up there and find the problems before they become serious.”

J&B’s expert staff looks for many things, including:

Buckled, curled, or blistered shingles
Loose, broken, or missing shingles
Ripples or waves in the roof
Nails popping out
Moss or algae growth
The quality of the ventilation system
Animal nests and debris
Damaged, rusty, or loose flashing, soffit, and fascia
Damage or rust to vent pipe boots and the chimney cap
Attic moisture as well as weak areas, damage, or mold in the rafters or decking
Gutter damage, rust, or sagging
Granules in the gutters, a sign of a deteriorating roof system.

Maintenance should include repairs to any damaged shingles, removing debris from the gutters and inspecting them for leaks, repairing caulking and mortar, and cleaning off any fungus or algae.

“We do not recommend pressure washing your roof,” Scott added. “It would strip granules off your shingles and hurt the longevity of your roofing system.”

Spring Siding Maintenance

During winter, siding may experience chipping or cracking, especially if it’s older or a hard material like vinyl. “Bitter cold temperatures can make siding stiff and brittle,” said Scott.

During the freeze-thaw changes, siding is at an increased risk of forming leaks. A careful inspection looks for these leaks to prevent the development of rot, mold, and severe water damage. Turbulent winds also can cause damage. “If your siding is riveted, we’re going to be looking to see if any sections have become too loose,” he said.

J&B will be able to determine if repairs are enough, or if you need new siding or a new roof.

Even if you’re capable of climbing onto your own roof, it’s a good idea to hire a professional who has extensive experience spotting potential problems. Exterior inspections should be done sooner rather than later, because timely repairs can save you from needing expensive replacements.

To discuss these exterior maintenance tips or schedule your spring inspection, contact J&B at 262-437-0537 or visit https://jandbconstruction.com/.

Enjoy Peace Of Mind

The only complaint I have is when I have J&B do my roof in another 30 years or so, is Dave their sales man (a great guy) would not guaranty I could get the same great crew I had this time. They did a fantastic job. Much better than the last roofing company did. A nice bunch of guys. Did a very nice job cleaning up. I'd give them 10 stars but 5 is the limit. If you need a roof done this is the company you want to do it. One more point I need to make. The guys that did the chimney flashing are artists. I went up on the roof when they were done and was very pleased with not only the roofing job but the sculptured sheet metal work. It's kind of a shame it's on the roof and not hanging on the family room wall :). You get the point. Hire em. You'll like em.

Dave H

We live in a historic designated neighborhood and recently had our 30 year wood shingle roof replaced with another wood roof and new gutters. From Day 1 of the project to the final day, the entire team was responsive, professional, and very competent. When some minor changes were proposed by us they quickly and effortlessly complied. After going through this experience with J&B, I would highly recommend them to anyone considering a roof and gutter replacement, whether it be a simple or complicated project.

John Lamb

J & B did an amazing job from start to finish. The initial meeting at my home took place exactly at the time that was agreed upon and Scott was thorough in his explanations and transparent about costs. When the time came to begin the project, the team that showed up was friendly, professional and timely in getting the project done. The cleanup afterward was such that it looked like they hadn't been there at all. The roof looks great, there were no surprises and Scott came by to inspect the work and explain the warranty upon job completion. I would highly recommend them.

Kenneth Simons

My neighbor had their roof replaced and I was really impressed with the speed, carefulness and quality of the work I saw. Asked her for her experience and she told me she would highly recommend J & B. I called Scott to set an appointment. He showed up on time and was very thorough in his assessment, also letting me know about some other issues and advise on where to get help. J & B is a fantastic company to deal with - their people are incredibly careful about the work they do, clean up and leave the property in the same condition as when they started, were careful about plants and the house, and work very efficiently. The office staff is great about following up, checking in and very responsive to anything that comes up. I was happy with the price charged. If you are looking to replace your roof, you should be calling J & B to get the job done.

David W.

We had work done by the J&B team at a commercial property and were very pleased with the whole process. Their estimator met us onsite and communicated with us every step of the way. They went over the scope in detail and the work performed exceeded what we were expecting. They found some additional concerns during the installation that were quickly addressed and communicated to us and to our surprise, there was not an additional charge. Our tenants reached out to share how respectful the employees were during the installation and how clean everything was left afterwards. As the project was wrapped up, we were walked through the completion paperwork and provided the warranty information. Very impressed with the professionalism of this company and would not hesitate to refer their services or use them again in the future.

Jessie C.