5 Steps to Prevent Winter Roof Damage
With the winter comes the cold, snow, and ice. It is imperative that you make sure to protect your home’s roof from ice injury. There are several steps you can take now to prevent winter roof damage. These tips will hinder massive ice forms and safeguard your roof from leaks and other issues. Consider accomplishing these simple tasks before the cold weather hits and keep your roof in good shape come springtime.
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Clean the Gutters
Probably one of the most important and easiest ways to prevent ice damage is to make sure your gutters are clean. When they are free of leaves and other debris melting snow will flow away from the house. Avoid a build up of snow and ice which causes ice dams and icicles, both of which can cause damage and a leaky roof.
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Insulate Your Attic
In an un-insulated attic a mix of warm air from inside and cold air from outside mixes and allows snow to melt and refreeze, also causing ice dams. Moisture, ice dams, and condensation steadily damage your roof. What’s more, is the moisture may also seep inside. If you have insulation in your attic, make sure to check it every year and replace any damaged or old sections.
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Remove Snow from Your Roof
A build-up of snow on your roof can become an issue for many reasons. It causes excess weight, which could be traumatic for an already weakened structure. Also, snow that continually melts and refreezes may seep under shingles and cause damage all winter long. Brushing away snow after a heavy snowfall could help prevent these problems.
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Make Channels in Ice Dams
If ice dams do happen to form on your roof, there is a solution. Create channels in them that steer melting water off your roof. This reduces the chances that the ice will damage shingles or cause leaks or impair the structure of your roof. Know that this is a temporary strategy and that the best way to avoid damage is to prevent ice dams in the first place. Not comfortable getting up on your roof? This is a good time to contact a professional.
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Seal Your Ceilings
If your ceilings are air-tight, it will not allow warm air to seep into the attic. Inspect your ceilings for any holes, gaps or cracks. Seal off those areas. This effort will prevent any warm air from mixing with the cold and causing the snow on your roof to melt and refreeze, thus forming an ice dam.
Get Professional Help
If you need assistance with any of these measures to prevent winter roof damage contact The Roof Guy. Our team of experienced roofing professionals can help you be prepared for whatever weather the season brings. Take these steps now, and you can prevent winter roof damage. Contact us today to schedule an inspection.
