Much like the Fourth of July, New Years celebrations are commonly celebrated with fireworks. Although fun and pretty to look at, fireworks can be extremely dangerous and can pose hazard for your home and roof. This year, Gulf Western Roofing, a trusted local roofer, is offering the following suggestions to protect your home from damage caused by fireworks:

First and foremost, fireworks CAN set a roof on fire. Certain fireworks still burn once they hit the ground, and roofing materials made of wood are easily combustible. It is still equally possible for a roof to catch on fire even if it is not made of wood. If the roof is already damaged and there are missing shingles, the roof felt paper, which is easily combustible, becomes exposed.

When preparing for your New Year’s celebration, make sure to cut back tree branches. A tree branch that is hanging too low on your roof could quickly start a serious fire that will easily spread to the rest of your home. It is a good idea to remove these limbs anyway in order to avoid damage during a storm. Other debris, such as pine needles and leaves are also flammable, which is why it is good to get into the habit of keeping your gutters clean and free of this dry matter.

And finally, as fun and exciting as it may seem in movies, Gulf Western Roofing suggests that you not attempt to climb on your roof to watch the neighborhood fireworks. For starters, climbing onto your roof is dangerous. It is too easy to slip and fall. Not to mention, when you climb onto your roof you always run the risk of causing damage to the materials.

As always, if you have any concerns about the current state of your roof, call the professionals at Gulf Western Roofing. In addition to being licensed and insured, Gulf Western Roofing is locally owned and operated, doing business for over 17 years. We’ll always tell you the truth about your roof.

Happy New Years from our family to yours!