We know it’s still fall in most places, but we think winter is coming soon! How do you prepare your roof for winter?
Since 1977, Shencorp Inc. has specialized in commercial roofing and commercial protective roof coating services throughout Winchester, VA, Charlottesville, VA, Waynesboro, VA, Richmond, VA, Virginia Beach, VA, and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region. In that time, we have become the leading choice for industrial and commercial roofing services like commercial protective roof coatings for customers throughout Virginia.
Winter is just around the corner and properly preparing your roof for these cold and snowy months is essential if you want to protect both the roof and your home from potential dangers and damages. Taking some necessary precautions on time will let you enjoy the snow and the holiday season without disruptions, worries, and roof repair hassles.
Climbing on top of the roof and fixing it when it is raining or snowing can be extremely difficult for either you or your roofer, so the best thing you could do is prepare your roof now.
Here are five essential tips on how to do it:
- Inspect and clean your gutters. Gutters are an important part of your roof and your home and therefore, an essential part of preparing your roof for winter. Clogged gutters and debris accumulation can lead to a number of problems at any time of the year but especially during the winter months. The main function of gutters is leading the rainwater and later the melted snow down and away from your roof and your home. When that function is somehow prevented or stopped, you could be facing some serious problems and damages. You may experience water pooling on your roof, which can lead to subsequent leaks and water damage to the interior of your home. Apart from that, during wintertime, your roof is also at a high risk of ice dam formation.
- Trim the trees around your house. Tall trees with branches that hang over your house greatly contribute to the accumulation of debris on your roof and in your gutters. Therefore, even if you clean your gutters you may be faced with continual leaves and branches falling into them during winter. In order to save yourself from these additional issues and the possibility of gutters getting clogged when the snow hits, it is best to take some time and deal with those trees as well.Long and heavy tree limbs and dead trees can be a great hazard during storms and rains as well, as they can lean towards your home and even crash into it and destroy certain areas. Squirrels and wild raccoons are known to live on or climb trees, so these trees and long branches can also function as a great access point to your home’s attic. Therefore, in order to prevent damages, as well as rodents inside your home, it is best to trim all the trees, as well as tall bushes around your home.
- Check your roof flashing. Flashing is one of the most important components of your roof that helps prevent leaks. Therefore, any issues with it can lead to serious water damage inside your home. Flashing is made of impervious material, such as aluminum or galvanized metal. It functions as an additional protective mechanism that directs the water off of the roof and prevents its passage into your home’s structure. Flashing is located along the intersections of the roof, on all the joints, at the edges of skylights, on the areas where chimney interconnects with the roof and other similar areas. Freezing temperatures and rain, as well as strong storms and winds, can sometimes cause the flashing to tear, loosen, uplift, and to corrode. In order to prevent greater damages and the troubles of a leak during the winter – which can amount to some serious costs – it is always highly recommended to inspect all the flashing to ensure that everything is in working order.
- Examine your roof shingles. Similarly to the flashing, shingles can also experience wear and tear over time, especially if the roof is an older one. Loose and missing shingles can also lead to a number of problems that can be difficult to deal with during the winter, once the damage is already done. You will notice that your shingles are faulty or loose if they start to lose their granules, i.e., when you find granules in your gutters.
- Inspect your attic and install ventilation. The attic is an integral part of your roof inspection and winter preparation. It can greatly contribute to the formation of ice dams on your roof and subsequently cause water damage and energy waste. When the attic is not properly insulated, or if there is no proper ventilation, the heat from your home will seep out and the cold air will come in. This will increase your heating needs, as well as your energy waste and utility bills. The heat that seeps out from the attic can also cause the shingles to curl as well as lead to the formation of ice dams on your roof as the snow melts from the heat. Therefore, check if your attic has a good, evenly distributed insulation or at least a ventilation system that allows the air to circulate.
Preparing and inspecting your roof for winter is an essential part of your home maintenance and you should always make it your priority. The roof is there to keep your home safe and protected from the elements, so keeping it in top shape will save you a lot of trouble and aggravation in the future.
At Shencorp, we are available 24/7 for emergency roofing services. Call us right away and we will help to repair damages as quickly as possible to help ensure the safety of your employees and the integrity of your building. For all of your commercial roofing needs, give us a call at Shencorp Inc., where we proudly serve Winchester, VA and surrounding areas.