Restoring our older windows

Roofing Maintenance Tasks to Do For the Winter

Before the winter approaches, it is good to be proactive and get your home ready for the drop in temperatures and change in weather conditions. One good way to prepare your home is by inspecting and maintaining your roof. This will ensure you don't experience leaks as a result of rain and snow, and also protect the roof from various other incidents that can occur during the winter.

Remove Debris From the Roof and Gutters

The first step to preparing your roof for the winter season is to do a quick cleaning of the roof and gutters. Remove all leaves, twigs, and debris from the gutters, making sure they are cleaned out fully. This will help to prevent ice dams from forming when the temperatures drop. You should also sweep the roof itself and remove debris from there as well, since all of this could end up in your gutters during a windy day. Cleaning it is also going to help you see if any repairs need to be done.

Inspect Roofing Materials For Damage

Once the roof is cleaned, you will be able to inspect the materials and look for signs of damage. Start by checking to see if the shingles or roofing panels are damaged, missing, or have holes and cracks in them. These will need to be replaced before it starts to rain and snow. Also take a few minutes inspecting the flashing, vents, and gutters to see if any repairs need to be done there. If the gutters are starting to sag, it is best to replace them now before the weather changes.

Wash the Roof

If you did not find any major sources of leaks, you can then wash the roof, which should be done routinely. Just make sure you do not do this if you found signs of cracks or leak in the roof, as the water is going to leak into your home and cause water damage. Washing the roofing materials can help prevent build-up, which would cause more serious damage later on.

Add Better Insulation

To prevent ice dams, you not only need a clean roof and gutters, but you need to improve your insulation. They typically form when the snow on your roof melts, but then re-freezes because it is cold enough out. It melts prematurely because your roof is too hot, often from lack of proper insulation. Contact a roofing company to see if insulation is your problem or if more vents need to be installed.


Share