As the colder weather is now upon us, you’ll want your roof to be ready for it. You never know what the weather can throw at you, and you want to be sure that you’re prepared, no matter what. If you want to prep your roof so it can stand up to winter and everything it has to offer, read on.
The Importance Of Prepping Your Roof
It’s so easy to forget about your roof until it the colder weather comes round, and does a number on it. If you do suffer damage, you’ll need to call out a roofing expert and pay for any repairs that need to be done. However, if you’re prepping for winter beforehand, you can actually avoid a lot of damage before it happens.
As well as this, being ready for that weather ensures that you’ll spend less money on repairs, too. With the holidays around the corner, anything that saves money is always a good idea.
What To Watch Out For
What can you expect the weather to do to your roof as winter approaches? There are several issues that you need to be aware of, including the following:
Snow weight on your roof: If you experience snowfall, you may see it build up on your roof. There are roof types out there that are designed to take the weight of snow, but even the best-built roof can buckle under the weight. You’ll need to be prepared to remove that snow to keep your roof safe.
Leaks in your roof: Well-made roofs will be more watertight than others, but any roof is prone to leaks under the right conditions. As snow and ice begin to melt, it’s going to cause water runoff. That can lead to water getting in under your shingles and creating leaks in your home.
Ice dams: This is something that’s prevalent during winter but can be prevented. These happen when the snow melts off your roof, meets the edge, and refreezes. That creates a dam of ice that will hold water on the roof, again leading to leaks. There are ways to prevent this though, so you can be prepared before the winter season.
How to Prepare Your Roof For The Winter
Now you know the issues to watch out for, you’ll need to consider how you’ll protect your roof against the bad weather in the winter. There are several things you can do to protect it.
Insulate your attic: This is one of the most important things you can do to prevent ice dams from forming. If your attic isn’t properly insulated,d a lot of warm air from your heating will simply escape through the roof. That’s what allows the snow to melt, and as the edge of the roof is colder, it will refreeze. Have your attic insulated now, and you’ll prevent this from happening.
Clear your gutters: This is another important job for avoiding ice dams on your roof. If there’s debris in your gutters, snow runoff can’t make its way to the ground and into the drains. Instead, it’ll freeze there and create dams.
You can stop this from happening by clearing the gutters out. You’ll just need a pair of gloves and a trash bag to scoop out any leaves and anything else that’s made its way into the gutters. You can take it one step further by adding a gutter guard, which will ensure that debris can’t get back into your gutters.
Check for any roofing issues before winter: Before the cold weather begins in earnest, you’ll want to look at your roof and see if there are any repairs that need to be made. Regular roofing inspections should be part of your home care schedule, so make sure you do one now.
You’re looking for any issues that could be made worse by the winter weather. This includes missing or broken shingles, damaged flashing, and so on. You can then replace shingles or make minor repairs, or have a roofing expert handle it for you. Once it’s done, your roof is ready to deal with the incoming weather.
Remove snow safely: Once the winter weather is here, you’ll want to keep an eye on your roof. If you’re getting regular snow fall, then removing the snow is a good idea. That will stop it accumulating on the roof and causing problems.
If you’re going to do this, it’s crucial that you don’t get on the roof to remove the snow. Getting on the roof can pose danger all year round, but that’s especially true when it’s wet and slippery. You can get long handled snow rakes, that are designed for you to remove snow while stood on the ground, which helps keep you safe. You can also hire professionals to handle the snow removal for you.
Watch out for your skylights: If you have skylights, they are a potential weak spot during the winter weather. They have ‘weep holes’, which are around the edges of the glass and prevent any condensation from collecting on the inside. When it snows though, they can get covered up and so condensation starts to form.
Removing snow regularly will stop these holes from getting covered up. You will need to let your professional know you have skylights if they’re removing the snow, so they can ensure that they’re careful with them as they work.
Get Help When You Need It
Even if you’ve done all the prep work, sometimes the winter weather will get the best of your roof. If you see any problems, don’t hesitate to call a roofing expert to help you. They will ensure that your roof is taken care of, and any damage it takes on is minimal.
Now you know what to do before the cold weather begins in earnest, and ensure that your roof is ready for it. Make the appropriate preparations now, and you’ll be able to avoid those costly roof repair bills.
