It’s important to winterize your roof so it will not suffer damage once the cold season sets in and snow starts falling. Here are the things you should do to prepare your roof for winter. Also, keep in mind that you can always call Greenville Roofing to ask for assistance with the most difficult of these tasks.
1. Prune Tree Branches Hanging over the Roof
Trees are very useful for keeping your home cool during the summer, but they should not be left to grow unchecked. When their branches start reaching towards the roof, you should have them trimmed. You should consult with an arborist or landscaping contractor to make sure you do it in a way that does not have a negative impact on the health of the tree.
High winds and snow can cause these branches to break and fall on the roof, causing significant damage. The best thing you can do is start trimming trees when they are young so that you control their growth over time.
2. Clean Gutters and Downspouts
By the end of fall, most trees have lost their leaves. And you diligently raked them off your lawn and backyard. But many leaves end up on the roof and are washed down by rain in the gutters.
Before winter sets in, you should have the gutters inspected and cleaned by a Greenville roofing contractor. Dead leaves can clog the gutters blocking water inside them. Once the temperatures drop significantly, the water in the gutters will freeze and break them.
Come spring, you would have to repair or replace a significant part of the gutter system.
3. Clean the Roof
Each roofing material has its specific lifespan, resistance to weather conditions, and maintenance requirements. For instance:
- Asphalt roof does not require a lot of maintenance. The best way of cleaning it is with a solution free of bleach or ammonia and a bristle brush or soft cloth.
- Clay and concrete roofs are fragile, so they should be buffed carefully to remove efflorescence.
- Wood shakes and shingles need regular cleaning to prevent moss and lichen growth. Just like in the case of asphalt shingles, the cleaning solution must not contain bleach or ammonia.
- Slate roof: use a brush and a bleach- and ammonia-free cleaner and avoid using power washing or the garden hose.
- Metal: ask roofing contractors about the correct formula for cleaning solutions, as some chemicals may corrode the metal slates.
4. Examine the Shingles
Once the roof is clean, have a closer look at the shingles. The most important damage signs to look for are:
- Discolored patches – they may represent the onset of mold, moss or lichen growth
- Cracks, even fine ones
- Curled shingles
- Shingles without granules – the granules can be washed away by wind and rain, especially if the roof approaches the end of life
- Missing shingles.
If you notice any of these issues, you should call experienced roof repair contractors to fix them before winter sets in.
5. Check the Flashing and Caulking
The roof can suffer damage if the areas connecting them to the walls of the house are damaged. These areas are the flashing and caulking. Look carefully for any signs of denting, distortion, or breakage.
If the flashing is not intact, water can easily get under the roof and start causing damage.
6. Have a Good Look at the Attic
Since we talked about the area under the roof, this is the next place you should check – the attic. Ensure that the ventilation is not obstructed and there are no signs of dampness. In some cases, the damage you cannot see on the outside of the roof is visible inside – especially water leaking into the attic through minute cracks.
7. Schedule a Detailed Roof Inspection
Even if you are diligent, you may miss some signs of damage on your roof. Thus, you should remember to schedule one of the two recommended roof inspections of the year before winter.
Take advantage of good weather to do it, so that the roofing specialist can also schedule and perform necessary repairs before the first snow.
Our Greenville Roofing Contractors Are Ready to Winterize Your Roof!
The best thing to do before winter sets in is to call our Greenville roofing contractors and schedule a thorough roof inspection. Our trained specialists can identify even the smallest issues and fix them before they start causing major problems and need expensive repairs.
Give yourself and your family peace of mind that you have a solid roof over your heads this winter. Call us today to schedule an appointment: 864-416-4166!