With winter just around the corner, it is time to start thinking about your roof and how you can best prepare it for these frigid, snowy months to come. Your roof is one of the most important parts of your house, and you need to be sure it is in good shape. Below, you will find the most important tips to help get your roof properly prepped for winter. The best time to get started is right now. After all, the first snow isn’t too far away.

Clean the Gutters Before Winter

If you haven’t already done so, you will want to have your gutters cleaned to get anything out of the gutters. This will help to ensure that the gutters make it through the winter, and it will ensure that water flows properly when the snow starts to melt. Clogged gutters could mean more water on your roof, which could cause damage if it stands in the same place for too long. You can also check your roof at this time to look for any signs of damage, such as missing shingles, animal infestation, etc.

Of course, the roof might look perfectly fine to you, or the person you hire to clean the gutters. If you aren’t a roofing expert, you won’t know where there are issues. This leads us to the next bit of preparation for your roof.

Get a Roof Inspection

You will want to make sure that you have a roof inspection from a professional. Ideally, you will have two inspections each year for your roof. This will be in the spring and before winter arrives.

When professionals inspect the roof, they can determine whether any issues would be worsened when winter comes. Generally, they are going to look at your shingles, flashing, the roof valley, gutters, and sealant. They will also check for any signs of damage.

The roofing professional can then provide you with an idea of what needs to be fixed and an estimate of how much it will end up costing. If there are “little” issues with the roof now, it is better to have them repaired before the problem gets worse.

Having regular checkups and maintenance on the roof is a smart option, as it can help to save you from massive expenses later. Just keep in mind that you will want to have your inspection for winter done early just in case you need to make any repairs before the snow really starts to fall. Although you might not like to hear that repairs are needed, taking care of them now is better for your peace of mind.

Trim Nearby Trees

If you have trees near your home’s roof with some branches that hang over the home, you will want to trim them. Those limbs are going to cause debris to get onto your roof and into your gutters. During the winter, their snow load could drop onto your roof, as well, creating a hazard. Tree limbs will also give a wide range of animals rather easy access to your roof, where they can end up causing damage.

Insulation in the Attic

While most of your efforts are likely to be focused on the exterior of the roof, you should also think about the interior of your attic. You need to check to make sure the insulation is still in good condition and that it hasn’t become a nest for rodents. This is important for several reasons.

First, having good insulation will help to keep your energy bills down. However, it can also be beneficial for your roof. Having good insulation will keep the surface of the shingles colder. Why is this important? It will prevent ice dams, which could end up damaging your roof over the course of the winter.

Don’t Add Nails to the Roof for Decorations

Although you might love decorating the exterior of the house for the holidays, you should never put any additional nails on your roof. Doing so will end up putting holes in your roof, which will provide easy access for water to get into your roof and cause some serious damage.

You can hang lights elsewhere on the exterior of your home without adding more nails and more problems. Instead of putting large or heavy items on the roof, keep them at ground level in the yard. If you do have to put anything on the roof, make sure it isn’t too heavy and that you have a safe, alternate means of keeping it where it belongs.

Have the Roof Shoveled During the Winter

Even after you have prepared the roof for the winter, you still want to make sure it stays in good shape during the coming months. Snow is heavy, and even a roof that’s in good shape could be damaged by all of that weight. This can be a big problem for those who have a relatively flat roof. Therefore, you will want to make sure that you have the roof shoveled after a large snowstorm. You could do this yourself if you have the equipment, but it is often better to hire someone who has the knowledge to do it safely.

Sometimes, the snow load will start to slide off of the roof. While this might seem like it will help, it has the potential to be dangerous. Anyone who is outside when the snow slides could be at risk. It is better to have it shoveled when needed rather than letting gravity do it for you.

Don’t Skip the Roof Preparation

Getting your roof ready for winter can seem like a lot of work… and it can be. However, this doesn’t mean that you should skip it even when you think there might be a mild winter. Your roof helps to keep your home safe. Damage to the roof can be expensive to repair, so you want to take precautions rather than have regrets in six months. Always make it a priority to get your roof ready for the cold months ahead.

Also, remember to monitor the roof during the winter. It is dangerous to get up on the roof yourself, but you can check the attic, and look for leaks, as well as visual signs of damage on the roof. If you notice any issues, you will want to contact the professionals right away. The sooner you act the better, as you don’t want the problem to get worse.

What If You Have Roof Damage?

Even when you believe you are taking good care of your roof, you might find that it still ends up having some issues that will need to be repaired. You never want to attempt to repair the roof on your own. Instead, you should let your professionals handle the repairs and restoration for you.

Stash Property Restoration has been in business for more than 37 years helping property owners in the Chicago area and Northwest Indiana with their roofing needs. We can even provide regular maintenance for the roof. If you have a roofing problem, feel free to get in touch with us today. You can call 219-924-0266 to let us know about your roofing needs.