Get Ready for Winter: How To Keep Your Roof In Good Shape

Winter is coming, and with it comes the potential for snow, ice, and other winter weather to damage your roof. Get an early start. It’s best to check and repair any shingles or other damage before winter hits rather than wait for it to get worse. Here are a few tips on how to winterize your roof and check for any damage before winter comes.

8 Steps To Winterize Your Roof

1. Get a professional inspection of your roof from an expert who can tell you if there are any problems or issues that need attention. This will give you time to get it fixed before winter starts so that no disaster happens during the cold months.

2. Put up storm panels on your house’s windows to help protect them from the wind. You might also want to find out about installing double-paned windows which can help improve energy efficiency while keeping heat inside where it belongs.

3. Be sure your gutters and downspouts are in good working order. This means that they should be free of any debris or other things that would hinder them from doing their jobs correctly, which is to direct water away from the house. The weight of this extra water combined with the freezing temperatures can put undue stress on your roof, leading to wear issues later.

4. Trim any branches near your roof and is a need to do the task to avoid roof damage in the winter.

5. Use a roof rake to help push snow off your roof. It’s recommended you do this for at least every 6 inches of snow to prevent dangerous build-up and ice. Use caution while doing this, as snow and ice can deceive you about how much it weighs.

6. Get any damaged shingles replaced. This is best done by a professional who can check for any other damage to the roofing and can fix it. You want to ensure they fix this damage, as not doing so will lead to more costly repairs down the road.

7. Damaged flashing should be repaired, as this is important as it takes care of directing the water off your roof. If this isn’t done correctly, the water can do damage to your roof or create ice dams in the winter where it gathers.

8. Caulking before winter comes is important because it helps with water building increases and cracks to damage or forms an ice dam. Old caulking will separate after time and exposure to the elements, so not only is this important in the winter but all year round.

It’s easy to put off home maintenance projects when the weather is nice, and summer seems like it will last forever. But before you know it, fall is here, and winter comes with its own set of challenges that can cause your roof or windows to leak once they become damaged.

You don’t want a disaster during cold months and dealing with homeowners insurance headaches. So, get an early start and winterize your roof this season so you can be sure it stays in good shape throughout the year.

Read more on how you can schedule professional inspections on your roof.