Wintertime means your roof is going to take a lot of wear and tear from snow, ice, and wind. In order to keep your family safe, it is important to take care of your roof even during the cold. Here are some ideas to keep your roofing intact this winter.
Snow removal – Excess snow should be removed as quickly as possible. During periods of warming and freezing, the melted snow becomes ice packed and can create a dam around gutters. This can loosen shingles and create a huge problem. Especially if your roof has only a little pitch, you can be in danger. If necessary, you should hire a roof maintenance company to take care of snow removal.
Flashings – Before the winter sets in, inspect your roof flashings and shingles. Over time these can loosen or warp and that means moisture will creep in, causing leaks onto your ceilings. If this happens in the winter, the ice and snow will cause even more damage. If you notice anything that looks questionable, it is best to have it repaired as soon as you can.
Gutters – If you drive by your house and see icicles forming along the gutters, you probably have an ice dam build-up. The guttering was not designed for the heavyweight of ice and they can break away from the house. That will cause some structural damage to the exterior of the home and probably means gutter replacement sooner rather than later.
Wind – Strong, continuous winds can cause serious damage, as well as those 60 miles an hour gusts that accompany winter storms. Check for any damage to your roof, especially shingles. Any vulnerability in the roof can lead to leaks or breeding grounds for mold and mildew.
Debris – Check to be sure all your trees are away from the roofline. Overhanging branches wear away at the roof’s surface and soon you will have a major problem to resolve, which is not what you want at any time, but especially in the winter.
If you have any concerns, hire a professional roof inspector to be sure you are fully protected during the wintertime.
