Winter is quickly approaching and before you know it, there will be snow on the roof and around your entire home. Although you can’t prevent snow from building on your house, you can prevent it from causing damage. With winter quickly approaching, it’s essential to know how to prepare your roof for the cold and snow.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to start maintaining your roof. If you want to give your roof the best chance of survival through this winter, then you need to start preparing your roof right now with the best roof maintenance. How can you prevent roof damage during the winter?
In the guide below, there are several roof maintenance tips you should keep in mind before and during the winter. Continue reading below to get started!
Clear All Fallen Leaves Before Winter
We all know what happens during the fall season. Leaves fall off the trees and land directly on top of our roofs and on our lawns. At the end of the fall season, it’s ideal to clear all fallen leaves from your roof, gutters, and downspouts.
To clean the gutters and downspouts, you’ll want to carefully climb a sturdy ladder to reach the gutters. Keep two buckets on the ladder with you. One bucket should have your tools in it and the other bucket is for all the debris you’re going to remove.
While wearing gloves, grab the leaves, twigs, and other debris from the gutter and place it in your bucket. When done, you should then rinse the gutter out with your garden hose. Make sure to pay close attention to the downspouts to ensure there’s nothing blocking the water from flowing through the gutter, down the downspout, and away from the side of the house.
While clearing the fallen leaves, you should also be on the lookout for signs of pest/animal infestations. If needed, never hesitate to contact a professional to complete these tasks for you.
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Schedule a Pre-Winter Inspection
Having your roof inspected on a regular basis by a professional is ideal. A professional roof inspection is one of the best ways to ensure your roof is in great condition and ready to take on the next season ahead of it. During the winter, snow will accumulate on the roof.
The heavy snow will eventually melt and can cause roof leaks. A roof inspection will uncover signs of small leaks and other issues before they worsen. An inspector will also notice signs of infestations and will help you correct these issues as well.
It’s always a good idea to have a regular roof inspection done before winter so you can discover potential roof issues before it’s too late.
Make Any Necessary Repairs
Once you’ve received the results of your roof inspection, do take them seriously. If the inspection has uncovered any issues with your roof, then you’ll want to make the necessary repairs as quickly as possible, but definitely, before winter comes.
Go through each repair and make sure to have it corrected professionally. Remember, the cold weather can have a negative effect on the different elements of your roof, such as the shingles. You want to make repairs that will last for several years to come.
For example, if you need to replace shingles, then be sure to do so with a new shingle type that’s able to withstand cold temperatures better.
Update Attic Ventilation and Insulation
Proper attic ventilation and insulation not only keep your home warm during the winter and your energy bills low, but they also help protect your roof. Insulation done correctly will help keep the surface of your roof’s shingles colder, which prevents ice dams from forming. If you dealt with an ice dam in the past, then it’s best to inspect your roof’s ventilation and insulation to see if there are any updates you can make.
This is an update to your home that can save you money by lowering your energy bills but also by ensuring your roof stays in great condition during the winter.
Avoid Nailing Decor to the Roof
When the holidays approach us, we love to start decorating our homes. There’s no reason not to decorate your home, but it’s important to decorate safely. You should avoid nailing any decorations to your roof.
You never want to add any unnecessary nails to your roof. You also don’t want to use your roof as a means to support heavy items. If you are going to add decorations, make sure you follow all directions and keep your roof safe during the process.
Purchase a Roof Rake
Unfortunately, you can’t prevent snow from piling up on your roof. It’s going to happen, but that’s why you’ll want to invest in a roof rake. Roof rakes are snow removal tools that are easy and safe to use.
Once there are 6 inches of snow on your roof, you can use your roof rake to start removing the snow and relieving your roof of the weight. You’ll stand on the ground while using the rake and push the snow down. When dealing with excessive amounts of snow on the roof, don’t hesitate to contact professional snow removers at https://www.prr247.com/snow-removal-service/.
Hiring professionals to remove the snow for you is the safest and most efficient way of doing so.
Winter Roof Maintenance Is Essential
There’s no denying that winter roof maintenance is essential for all homeowners. Once the snow starts to fall, you’ll want your roof to be prepared. Start preparing your roof for the winter during the fall season to ensure it’ll withstand the cold and snow!
Use the helpful tips listed in this guide above to keep your roof, your home, and yourself safe this winter season. For more posts similar to this one, continue to check back here on a frequent basis.
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