Winter weather poses many threats to residential roofing. In fact, heavy snow may even cause your roof to collapse. By preparing for winter and learning how to winterize a roof, many of these winter roofing problems can be avoided.
Do you want to learn how to get your roof ready for winter? Keep reading this article for important tips to follow to keep your roof safe.
Check Common Areas For Leaks
One of the first things you should do when you are conducting roof maintenance before winter is to check areas of your roof that commonly leak.
First, you should inspect the chimney flashing on your roof. This flashing is what seals the gaps between your roof and your chimney, so faulty flashing may lead to a leak in your roof.
If you notice that any flashing on your roof is loose or damaged, it is important to get these fixed. Luckily, learning how to repair flashing is not too difficult and you may even be able to repair it yourself.
Clean Out Gutters
Next, it is important that you always clean out your gutters and remove debris from your roof before winter. In the fall months, it is easy for dead leaves, twigs, and other debris to gather on your roof or in your gutters.
If you do not clean out your gutters, it will clog your drains and will prevent rainwater or snowmelt from properly draining off your roof. This can cause ice to build up on your roof and may even lead to ice dams.
In the fall, it is important to remove the debris from your roof with a leaf blower or with your hands to prevent these clogs from happening.
Look For Signs of Water Damage
You may also want to check your home for signs of water damage, especially if you have an attic. While roof leaks can be obvious, others can slowly cause more and more damage without anyone noticing.
Look for water spots on your walls, puddles of water, and peeling paint. If you notice any of these signs of water damage, it is important that you call a professional roofing company as soon as possible.
They can help you identify the source of the leak, the extent of the water damage, and they will help you repair your roof before it is damaged any further.
Trim Overhanging Tree Branches
Something else that many homeowners fail to do to winterize a roof is trim any overhanging tree branches. With large trees and branches growing over your roof, heavy snow or harsh storms can cause them to snap.
If these land on your roof, it can cause extreme damage to your roof. To prevent this from happening, it is important that you trim any low or overhanging branches.
Even if your branches do not break, wind can cause the branches to scrape against your roof shingles which will slowly cause them to deteriorate.
Check For Pests
When people do not properly seal their roof, it allows many wild animals and pests to enter your home. These pests will often nest in your attics or in your walls during the winter months to stay warm.
Some common signs that you have pests living in your home are scratching sounds in your walls, animal droppings, or signs of nests.
To prevent any animals from nesting in your home and reproducing, it is important that you seal any potential entrances on your roof. You can also look for birds nests or other signs of animals on your roof.
This is another reason why it is important to trim overhanging tree branches. If you have any branches that extend to your roof, it provides an easy way for animals to gain access to your roof.
Inspect Roof Valleys
Another important winterization tip to protect your roof in the winter is to inspect your roof valleys.
These are the areas of your roof where two sloped sections meet together. Because water will run down these slopes and meet in the middle, they are a common place for your roof to last.
Make sure you inspect your roof valleys for holes or leaks to prevent further damage in the winter months.
Get a Roof Inspection
Finally, it is important to get your roof professionally inspected by a roofing contractor. Some roofing problems are hard to spot, especially when you aren’t sure what to look for.
Expert roofers will be able to identify any roofing problems, whether they are visible or not, and can repair these problems before the winter months. This way, you can be sure that your roof problems will not worsen with the bad weather.
Many roofing contractors will even perform free inspections to homeowners. Find a local roofing company to help you winterize a roof and make any necessary repairs.
Start Preparing for Winter With a Professional Roofing Company
Roof maintenance can be difficult to do on your own. If you need help taking care of a roof to prepare for winter, it is important that you follow each of these tips. This will help you prevent leaks, identify issues with your roof, and more.
It is also important to hire a professional roofing company to perform a roof inspection as you are preparing for winter. They can help you identify problem areas with your roof and can help you with a roof repair before the winter weather hits.
Are you looking for a roofing company in Champaign, IL? Freeman Exteriors can help! Contact our team today for a free estimate on your roof repair, or to schedule a roof inspection or repair
