As the days get shorter and colder, it’s important to think about what you need to do to make sure your roof is ready for winter. This may seem like a lot of work, but it’s actually an easy process that will save you a lot of headaches when the weather gets bad. Here are some tips on how to prepare your house before winter arrives:
Fall is a great time to make sure your roof is ready for winter.
You’ve probably seen the ads on TV and in magazines: “Early fall is the best time to check your roof.” They’re right—but they may also be giving you some major FOMO.
If you haven’t been up on your roof yet this year, it’s not too late. Get a ladder and start climbing! If it’s still standing, congratulations! You’re good until next year (or perhaps even longer if you live in an area where snowfall doesn’t happen often). But if there are any cracks or holes in your shingles or flashing, now is the time to fix them before winter hits and everything gets covered up with snow and ice. Otherwise, those leaks will turn into full-on damage as ice dams form behind them—and that can lead to costly repairs at best or water damage at worst.
Remove debris.
In most cases, if you’re not planning on adding a roof snowblower to your arsenal of winter necessities, this is probably one of the most important tasks you can do. While it may seem like a small thing to just pick up leaves and other debris from your roof, it can actually be pretty dangerous. It’s very easy for leaves and other natural debris to build up over time and create a safety hazard that could lead to an unnecessary fall. Plus, once snow starts accumulating on top of these items, they become much more difficult (and potentially dangerous) to remove.
If there are any large branches or other objects that have fallen onto your roof during storms like Hurricane Florence or Hurricane Michael recently in Florida—or even if there were any issues with tornadoes or twisters around the Midwest—you will want to remove them as well. These items could cause damage when the weather gets colder this winter and possibly allow water into places where it shouldn’t go at all!
Check the flashing.
You’re probably familiar with flashing, but just in case you’re not: it’s a metal or plastic piece that goes around the bottom of your roof. Flashing helps protect the roof from water damage by reducing the amount of water that can get in through seams and joints in your roofing system. It should be checked for damage and repaired if necessary before winter begins; this way, you’ll know for sure that your home is protected against freezing rain, melting snow and ice dams (which could cause serious flooding).
Replace missing shingles.
There are a few things to consider when replacing shingles.
- Do you have enough? If you need more than just a couple of shingles, it’s time to get some from your local hardware store or roofing supply center. Once you know how many you’ll need, buy them in bulk so that the price per unit is lower (they’re cheaper this way).
- How much does the job cost? Roofs can be expensive, and some repairs will cost more than others depending on what sort of damage there is—for example, if you have to completely replace an entire section of roof because it has been damaged by hail or windstorm damage rather than just patch up an individual hole with new shingles as described below. Always get multiple quotes from contractors who provide these services before making any decisions about what repair work needs doing; this way, everyone knows what they’re getting into financially upfront instead of having unexpected costs later down the line!
Cut back branches and check gutters.
A lot of people make the mistake of not cutting back branches from their trees. Even if you can’t see your roof from the ground, that doesn’t mean it’s safe. A branch scraping against your shingles could cause damage over time, as well as be an eyesore.
It’s also important to make sure that your gutters are clear and free of debris. Leaves and other junk can block the water flow and cause leaks in your gutters or even on your roof itself! The last thing you need is a leaky roof during winter; they’ll only get worse if they’re clogged with gunk now and then later gets really bad when there’s snow or rain falling down on top of them too.”
Repair damage.
If you have a leak, fix it now. It’s not worth the risk of waiting until next spring to make repairs—it could cost you more time, money and energy than if you just get it done now. But also: don’t put off fixing that leak until wintertime either. You want to ensure that any damaged areas are fixed before the snow comes and everything freezes up on you (literally).
- If your roof is well-maintained during the colder months, those cold snaps won’t be so bad.* If there are loose shingles or other issues with your roof that aren’t addressed before they start snowing in earnest, they’ll only get worse as they freeze over during winter storms.
You can save yourself a lot of headaches if you check your roof before winter arrives.
Shingles: It’s always a bad idea to replace your roof shingles in the winter. Not only will you be working on a slippery surface, but the weather will be unpredictable. You could get rained out, or worse—you could fall off your roof when ice forms on it!
Foliage: If you have trees or bushes near your house, you should have them cut back by November at the latest. The reason? It’s so that they don’t interfere with your home’s structure during winter storms. It would also be wise to inspect any branches that are hanging over power lines and trim those back as well.
Flashing: A flashing is exposed metal or plastic along a roof edge designed to divert water away from buildings when it freezes or gets heavy rains (like now). If these become damaged or broken over time (or if they need replacing), then this can lead to leaks in your home’s attic space where insulation is kept dry all year long—and we all know how expensive replacing that stuff can get!
Contact Viking Exteriors today and we will make sure you can keep your roof in good shape so it will last for years to come!