Getting Your Roof Ready for Winter

July 7, 2023

The roof, almost ironically, isn’t always top of mind when we see the last months of the year showing up on our calendars. It protects our home and family year-round but winter can bring extra challenges you should make sure your roof is ready for. Here are 4 tips on getting your roof ready for winter.

1. Check and clean all of your gutters.

Depending on where you live, your gutters can get quite choked up with debris. We usually think of leaves clogging up gutters but animal nests can sneak in as well, ready to stop the flow of water and create potential ice jams. Ice collecting along your gutters can tear off large portions of the gutters themselves and with it some of the flashing that protects your home from water damage. While you’re at it, make sure your downspouts are prepared for diverting large amounts of snowmelt from your home and not depositing it too close to your foundation.

2. Trim your trees’ low-hanging branches

The less weight the trees surrounding your home are carrying the better. Quite a lot of snow can pile up on branches and if the branch, or even worse, the tree itself, can’t handle the weight that bit of nature can come crashing down with a lot of force. Depending on how tall, broad, and numerous the trees are surrounding your home it may be a good idea to find a local arborist and have them do a consultation on your property.

3. Inspect the planes and slope of your roof.

It might not be readily apparent. Much of our life is spent doing what we usually do each day so sometimes we can overlook the world around us that feels so commonplace. Slight sags, missing or damaged shingles, and debris buildup are all places water, snow, and ice can pool. Ice can expand and contract enough times throughout the winter to put a lot of hurt on the structure of your roof so give it a quick visual inspection and if you think there may need to be a closer look hire a local roofing inspector.

4. Look from the inside out.

To further avoid the risks of ice dams and the potential damage they can cause, proper attic insulation helps to keep the surface of your shingles colder by keeping the warmth of your home away from it. A roofing specialist can examine your insulation and ventilation and let you know if it needs to be replaced, particularly if you experienced an ice dam during the previous winter.