How to get your roof ready for the winter weather
The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting cooler! Before you know it, the winter months will be in full swing. When Fall and Winter weather arrives, there’s no denying that your roof will be put to the test. Here are some helpful tips on how to get your roof ready for the winter weather.
Look at the inside ceilings on a regular basis
Before winter weather hits, look at the inside of your ceilings closely. If you notice that there are any moisture marks that leave brown, yellow, or gray colors – especially if they are soft spots – there could be roof leaks somewhere. If you notice anything like this, it’s imperative that you get it checked out right away.
If you wait too long, the water damage could get worse, which could require costly repairs or become a health hazard. If there is water within the walls of the house from a leak, it could lead to black mold. Unchecked, it could spread and lead to respiratory issues. You’ll also need to remove all material it’s found on.
Service The Gutters
Clean your gutters and keep them well maintained. By removing leaves, pine needles, and obstructions from your gutters, you’ll allow melting snow and other precipitation to run away from the house. If there is standing water, it could freeze and put undue strain on the gutter system, causing it to fall.
Weatherizing your roof before the winter weather is key, and that means keeping your gutters in tip-top shape. Water can get backed up on occasion, and over time, it could build up underneath the shingles, causing damage to the interior of your home. Make sure that the gutters of your home are cleaned out every few months so they can drain the way they were designed to.
Keep an eye on the outside of your roof
Regular visual roof inspections of the roof will give you the chance to see if there are any missing shingles or other areas where there are cracked, torn, or curled shingles. If you see any damage that is noticeable like this, have a professional roofing company take a look right away.
A simple repair may be in order, but if there is more extensive damage to the roof, you may need to consider a complete roof replacement before the cold weather begins. It’s also a good idea to take a look around the eaves or roof valleys of your home. When freezing weather hits your roof, you may experience ice dams.
What are ice dams? As you drive around town after a snowfall, you may see homes with little to no snow on the roof (poor attic insulation) while others still have two or three inches of the white stuff (good insulation or attic ventilation). The home with a lot of snow on the roof will see some melting at the surface of the roof because of the ambient heat of the house.
However, when that water hits the eaves and no ambient heat, it freezes again. After a few days of thawing and freezing cycles, the water can no longer make it to the gutter and pools on the shingles. When it freezes, it can back up under the shingles, eventually lifting the shingles.
If you notice ice dams on your roof, you may want to call an experienced roofing professional for snow removal from the roof. There are also many “brooms” and other equipment on the market that you can use for snow removal from the roof.
Roof Care Specialists
In addition to doing your own regular maintenance and taking care of your roof, our team of specialists can come out and regularly check on your roof. Our experienced roof specialists have the know-how that is needed to recognize the signs of roof decay or damage before you might see them. Contact us today at Warner Roofing if you need expert advice on how to get your roof ready for the winter weather.
