Winter is on its way once again. That means it’s time to start preparing your home for the cold weather that is on the horizon. It’s important to keep your home protected from potential damage that could occur due to wet, snowy, and freezing weather. With some basic precautionary measures, you can help ensure that your roof will stay in good shape throughout the winter, allowing you to enjoy your holidays and the winter weather, in peace.
Here is everything you need to know about preparing your roof to last through the winter:
Make sure your gutters are clear and in good condition
The gutters around your roof are an essential part of keeping your roof in good repair. In fact, the accumulation of debris and gutters that are clogged are a common cause of roof problems.
Gutters work by providing a pathway for rainwater and melted snow to move off of the roof and away from your home. If the gutters are blocked and prevented from doing their job, the water is not easily removed from your house and roof, which can cause a host of damage and a number of problems.
Clogged gutters can cause water to pool up on your roof, causing leaks and other types of water damage, as well as ice formation during times of freezing temperatures. By having your gutters inspected and cleaned out, you can help to ensure that they work right when they’re most needed.
” Gutters are designed to collect rainwater from the roof and carry it away from the foundation of the home through downspouts. Since both the gutters and downspouts need to be clear in order to carry out this task, having clogged gutters could cause an overflow of water. ”
Check out your roof’s flashing
The flashing on your roof is one of the most important components, as it helps protect your roof from leaks. If it is not working properly, your roof can suffer from issues that cause water damage inside of your home.
Your roof’s flashing is a protective component located on the intersections of the roof, such as the joints, the places the chimney connects with the roof, and the edges of skylights. Made of either aluminum or galvanized metal, the flashing directs water off of the roof and away from your home.
The flashing on your roof can be damaged by rain, wind, and freezing temperatures, which can cause it to loosen, tear, or corrode. By having your flashing inspected before the winter weather begins, you can ensure that it is in good condition and ready to protect your roof throughout the season. If your flashing inspection reveals any issues, you’ll have time to get it repaired before winter damage is done.
” Make a good habit to check your flashing each time you’re up on the roof—or at least once a year—to see if it’s loose or has any holes or leaks. You’ll notice any issues that require repair, and you can often spot the problem early enough before any real damage occurs. ”
Trim your trees
You already know how important clear gutters are for the protection of your roof. The trees surrounding your roof drop the leaves and branches that get in your gutter and create clogs and blocks. Even after cleaning out your gutters, more leaves and branches can fall off into the gutters, especially during winter storms.
Trimming your trees before the winter weather is in full effect can help to secure your trees and prevent them from clogging up your gutters. You’ll want to remove long, dry, or dead branches. This can help prevent clogged gutters, heavy branches falling onto your roof, and rodents from accessing your home.
” Any branch that is hanging over your home, close enough to touch your roof, windows, or house, in general, should be trimmed back. Doing this will help you avoid any potential damage through falling branches, disease, or other issues. ”
Check your roof’s shingles
Shingles are a necessary part of your roof and provide protection to your home. Older roof shingles often suffer from wear and tear that can create a number of problems to the roof, especially during the inclement weather of the winter.
Inspect your roof’s shingles before the winter to discover any potential problem areas such as loosening, loss of granules, or even leaves and sticks underneath. If you see any potential problems with your roof’s shingles, you’ll want to have a roofer perform maintenance and repairs on them to prevent damage over the winter.
” Look for missing, damaged, and aged shingles – this is the leading cause of roof damage. When you take the time to inspect your roof, you can catch minor issues like these before they turn into major issues followed by serious damage. Missing shingles = direct exposure to inclement weather, plus, they are an eyesore! ”
Examine your attic
When you are preparing your roof for the winter, you will want to include an inspection of your attic. The attic can actually cause ice dams to form on your roof which leads to water damage. This is due to improper insulation or a lack of insulation, which causes the heat to leave your home through the roof and cold air to come in.
The heat that is leaving your home can cause ice dams to form as snow melts and can also cause curling of the shingles. Before winter temperatures drop, have your attic inspected for proper insulation. If needed, have a roofer install insulation to keep the heat in over the winter.
” Look at the underside of the plywood under your roof. It should not have any watermarks or mold on it. ”
Regularly inspect your roof
After you prepare your roof for the winter, you’ll want to continue to inspect the various areas. Your roof may be ready as the winter begins, but keep in mind that any freezing temperatures or winter snow has the potential to cause trouble.
With regular inspection, you’ll be able to discover most problems as they arise. This enables you to take proper care of them and have them repaired before they cause damage.
The winter is a time for togetherness and connection. That means you need to make sure your home is safe, warm, and ready for all that the season brings. By preparing your roof and ensuring that it is ready to withstand that winter weather, you’ll be able to enjoy the season to its fullest.