If there’s one thing your roof hates, it’s wet, cold, slushy weather. (We tend to agree. Have you seen what all that water does to a good pair of boots?) And if you can believe the Farmer’s Almanac, it looks like Winter 2018-2019 is going to be just as cold and wet as last year’s. Here’s hoping we don’t see another hail storm.
So before the temperatures drop and the precipitation starts to fall, we’d like to help you out with some do it yourself roofing instructions for the winter weather. Here are five important steps every homeowner should take for winterizing the roof.
Check Your Gutters and Downspouts
Even a light dusting of snow needs somewhere to run off when it melts, and if it can’t find its way to the ground through your gutters and downspouts, it will back up into the foundation of your home. This can ruin your siding and exterior trim. Be sure that all of your gutters and downspouts are free of leaves and debris.
Trim Your Trees
Take a walk around your property and look at your trees. Are there any branches hanging directly over your roof that could potentially fall off under the weight of snow, or during a windy rainstorm? Trim all of those back. (As a bonus, the squirrels will have a harder time hopping over to your attic once they come out of hibernation in the spring.)
Repair Damage
Sometimes, winterizing the roof will involve a few repairs. Here’s the part where you have to perform an inspection. Are there any missing shingles? Is any part of the roof torn, cracked or buckling? Can you see any moss or mold?
These are all problems that should be addressed quickly to avoid even more damage. You should also re-check the roof for damage after a storm. But please, stay safe! Winter roofing is not for everyone as the wet conditions make it easier to slip and fall. If you need help, give us a call and we’ll be happy to offer you an affordable price for your winter roof repairs.
Insulate Your Attic
You might be thinking, “What does my attic have to do with snow damage to my roof?” But we can tell you, it’s a lot. If your attic doesn’t have the proper insulation, your roof will be ripe for ice dams, even after a light dusting of snow. When the temperature outside rises during the day, an uninsulated attic will heat up, and so will your roof.
That means the snow will start to melt. When the temperature falls again at night, the melted snow will refreeze, but this time, it’s ice. All that ice collects near the edge of your roof and literally creates a dam. Any other drainage can’t get past it. This means a water backup, and as we’ve already discussed, that’s not good for a roof.
Get Professional Help With Winterizing the Roof
If you’ve read this far, we’re confident that you can take this guidance and run with it. Of course, if you’d rather have a professional take care of this for you, that’s perfectly understandable.
Give us a call, and we’ll come out and inspect your roof, your gutters, and your property, and we’ll let you know if we see anything that needs work.