5 Tips to Ensure your Home’s Roof is Ready for the Winter
Friday, November 10th, 2017 at 6:47 am , By C Plus Roofing
Winter is in the way. Is your home’s roof ready for the winter weather? Is it ready to withstand the frigid temperatures, wind, snow, and ice? If you are not sure, you need to take the time now to ensure your roof is prepared or you could find yourself dealing with roofing issues in the middle of winter. And this is not something you want to have to deal with as a homeowner.
To help you ensure your roof is ready for winter, we’ve put together the follow 5 tips:To help you ensure your roof is ready for winter, we’ve put together the follow 5 tips:
Clean the gutters and downspouts
Along with raking leaves, cleaning out your gutters and downspouts is something you should do every fall. Leaves, sticks and other debris can build up in these areas, and if left untouched, it can cause blockages, prevent water from draining off your roof, and even cause ice dams and ice build-up. This can damage your eaves and your roof.
Check from the inside
Most people overlook the importance of checking their roof from the inside. However, what you see in your attic can tell you a lot about the state of your roof. It’s important to look for:
- Issues with your insulation
- How well vents are working
- Signs of critters
- Signs of water infiltration – wet insulation, water, mold, water stains
These are all signs that your roof is NOT ready for winter.
Do a visual inspection
Performing a visual inspection of your roof at least once per year (preferably 2-3) can help you identify small issues before they become major problems. Here are some of the things you should be looking for:
- Cracked, curling or damaged shingles
- Missing shingles
- Loose vents
- Broken seals around flashing, skylights, chimneys, and vent openings
- Anything else that doesn’t look right
The sooner you identify an issue, the better.
Schedule a professional inspection
While a visual inspection will help you identify obvious issues, a roofing professional can identify any and all issues that may be present – including the issues that you can’t see or don’t know to look for. Consider scheduling a professional inspection, especially if you have an older roof or it’s been a number of years since your roof was last inspected.
Get repairs now (if needed)
One of the main reasons you should inspect your roof before winter is to give you time to get roof repairs if they are needed. You never know what you might find, and depending on the issue, it may take some time to repair. If you find issues, book a roofing repair appointment right away.
More Residential Roof Care Tips
Check out these blog posts for more great roofing tips:
6 Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Roof Shingles
5 Signs Your Roof Has Been Damaged By Unpredictable Fall Weather
7 Things that Need to be Replaced During a Residential Roofing Project
Getting a professional inspection is always your best option. Contact us today to get a free estimate.
