Winter is coming. Ensuring that your roof is in perfect condition will complement your plans of staying cozy in the extreme winter weather. Another thing you should have in mind whether you own or rent your living space is that winter’s extreme weather can take a toll on your house?—and the roof will take most of the beating from elements such as snow, ice, and freezing temperatures. Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the things you need to do to prepare your winter roof.
Inspecting the Shingles
Inspecting for loose and missing shingles is one of the most important things you can do to prepare your roof for winter weather. Shingles undergo wear and tear. Knowing this, you should prioritize examining your property’s shingles.
Failing to replace worn-out shingles might lead to leakages, which may, in turn, result in additional roof problems that are expensive to fix in winter weather. Shingles with debris lodged underneath should be replaced even if the shingles appear to be in excellent shape. When the debris decays underneath a shingle, snow or ice might creep in, and the resulting damage might call for a full roof replacement.
Trimming or Cutting Down Trees That Are Around Your Living Space
Having trees around your house is recommended because trees help reduce the heat that enters your home. However, during winter, you should consider cutting down tall trees that have branches hanging over your house. Leaves fall from these branches onto the roof?—?something that might result in the accumulation of debris on your roof, gutters, and under the shingles, thereby causing severe damage to your roof during winter.
Tall and dead trees might pose a significant threat to your house in the event of a storm or rain. These trees might lean on your house, and in a worst-case scenario, they can even fall on the roof, and this might severely damage some sections of your house.
Cleaning the Gutters
Ensure that your gutters are clean before winter. The gutters are needed for a healthy roofing system since they facilitate the redirection of precipitation from the roof to the ground. Clogged roofs might result in the back up of water, snow, or ice on the roof. You should thoroughly clean your gutters because the backing up of precipitation on the roof can create the opportunity for various damages resulting from leaks.
Strong winds and storms might result in various debris landing in your gutter. It would help if you cleared the debris from your gutter so that it can handle the redirection of increased rainfall and snow.
Repairing Any Existing Damage to The Roof
You might make it past summer and fall weather with a roof that has minor damages. Roofs with minor cracks, broken shingles, missing shingles, and minor leaks can make survive summer and fall, but they can’t survive the extremes of winter weather. You might not need professional help for minor roof repairs during summer, fall, and maybe the late stretches of autumn.
Inspect the Attic
A common mistake made by homeowners while preparing for winter is failing to inspect the attic. You should always inspect your attic and ensure that it has sufficient insulation to prevent heat from escaping your house. A properly insulated attic will prevent your energy bills from skyrocketing, and an attic inspection should be a priority. In contrast, poorly insulted roofs can result in heat being trapped under the shingles. When this happens, the resulting ice dams from the snowmelt might result in serious roof damages. Individuals living in older homes should invest in insulating their living space’s attic as this is one of the efficient ways of lowering energy costs during winter.
Inspect and Fix Flashings
Finally, you can make your roof ready for winter by inspecting and fixing damaged flashings These are the metallic stripes used to seal and waterproof the regions in the roof where the plane has been interrupted. You should hire a professional to inspect and fix your roof’s flashings when preparing for winter weather. The repairs could be a great DIY project for summer or fall, but you should delegate it to professionals if you want to enjoy winter with peace of mind.
