As the temperatures start falling, the leaves are changing colors, football is here, the holidays are getting closer—after all, winter is just around the corner. However, you also need to take the time to get your roof ready for winter. This won’t take very long, as the bulk of it involves performing a visual inspection. This inspection needs to be performed before frost and snow piles up on the roof. Ideally, you should contact a professional roofer to ensure that no one gets injured and your roof doesn’t sustain damage. Plus, a roofing contractor will likely offer a flat-rate fee for all of the following fall roof maintenance tune-up tasks.
How Does Your Roof Look?
Your summer has likely been filled with camping, beach trips, golfing, and other fun-filled activities that do not involve getting up close and personal with your roof. So, first and foremost, you will want to see how your roof looks. Are there any shingles missing? Is there a sag in the ridge line? Are there any significant scratches, punctures, holes, or other damage from fallen branches or trees? If you have noticed any of this, then you need to schedule repairs before winter arrives. Otherwise, snow will simply conceal those damaged areas and the interior of your home will be at serious risk of moisture damage.
Take a Closer Look
While you may not necessarily be on top of your rook looking at the roof, you may have hired a professional to do the job. Either way, make sure that a closer look is being taken at the areas where the shingles meet antenna mounts, plumbing stacks, flashing, bricks, etc. Areas like these will usually have a bead of sealant to serve as an additional barrier against moisture. Over years, however, weather will take its toll on this sealant and start to crack. Therefore, weathered sealant will need to be repaired.
Make sure that the roof gutter is inspected as well. Gutters tend to accumulate leaves and various other types of debris unless they’re properly protected with a gutter guard. Debris needs to be removed before winter arrives to ensure that rain and snow melt water is able to quickly drain off the roof. Once the gutters have been cleaned thoroughly, flush them out with a garden hose to ensure the water flow is good.
If you see some granules from the shingles in the gutters, this is common. There is no need to panic unless the shingles are not covered with granules any longer. If the shingles are not covered with granules, then there is an issue with the shingles that needs to be addressed.
Look in the Attic
Before the colder weather arrives, you need to ensure that the attic has an adequate amount of insulation and that the insulation is evenly distributed throughout the space. You also need to ensure that the insulation is not blocking the roof vents. Sufficient insulation in the attic will ensure the warm air in the home stays in the home and doesn’t rise up beneath the shingles where it can contribute to the formation of ice dams.
You’re Done!
That did not take long at all, right? Now that your home’s roof is ready for the winter season, you can sit back and relax in front of a crackling fireplace while planning next summer’s trips.
If you have any questions, contact us at Advanced Roofing.
