How to Protect Your Roof from a Winter Storm
Winter usually begins as a time for holiday cheer, snowmen, snowball fights, and fun… until it’s not.
The roof is one of the most crucial parts of a house or building, offering protection and warmth, especially during winter. To keep your home or business from experiencing an unhappy ending during winter’s worst storms, you need to know how to protect your roof from a winter storm.
It helps to arm yourself with helpful information you might need to be proactive about protecting your home or building during harsh weather seasons. From affordable roof repair options that prevent expensive damage to the structure of your property, we’ll show you what it takes to weatherize your roof against a winter storm properly – and tips for how to fix any damage it may already have.
Check for Roof Damage
The best way to protect your roof from a winter storm is to fix any damage before it gets worse. Check for loose shingles where ice and snow might have been able to break through, as well as windows that may be leaking air or water into the attic space that can cause extensive damage. The last place you want to discover a problem with your roof after a big storm is in the middle of a cold winter night.
Leaks around vent pipes, flashing, and skylights are also common, so check these areas carefully during an inspection. Leaks inside your living space aren’t only bothersome – they mean there’s probably moisture trapped in or under your shingles and insulation, which can cause mildew growth and rot any wood-based framing members.
Clean Up Roof Debris
Clear away any debris collected on your roof during the storm, such as leaves, twigs, and branches. Make sure to scrutinize the debris pile for signs of animals such as squirrels or raccoons, which may have taken up residence under your roof eaves during the winter.
Repair Damaged Shingles
Repair any damaged shingles or tiles before they get worse. During a snowstorm, damaged shingles can quickly deteriorate due to the weight of accumulated snow and ice.
During winter, storm winds will often pick up considerably after the sun goes down and continue well into the early hours of the morning, if not all night long. The wind can cause shingles to slip loose and blow off, leaving you with an open hole in your roof until you can fix it.
Repair Roof Cracks or Holes
Seal any cracks or holes in your roof to keep out snow, wind, or rain. Cracks or holes can be found in many places, though they are often located in the roof valleys where two roofs meet. Roof valleys are more likely to accumulate snow than other parts of your roof. Repair any damaged shingles in this area after a winter storm to prevent future problems in that area or elsewhere on your roof. It might also help to look into some affordable roof maintenance on a regular basis.
Check Your Roof Insulation
Over time, your roof’s insulation can become compacted and lose effectiveness. If you have noticed a few thin spots in your insulation or have trouble keeping the heat in your home, you should perform a thorough inspection of the entire roof to determine if your insulation needs replacing.
If There’s Snow on Your Roof
Remove any significant snow buildup from your roof as soon as possible after a winter storm has passed. This can help keep stress off your roof and prevent icicles from forming. Avoid piling snow onto an already overloaded section of your roof, which can cause it to collapse or break under the weight of additional snow and ice.
Removing snow from your roof helps improve drainage and prevents ice dams by allowing melted water to drain correctly rather than pooling up under the snowpack and freezing again overnight when temperatures drop. You can remove snow yourself; however, hiring affordable roof repair professionals to remove snow for you would not only be easier, but it would also be safer.
Roof Repair Tips
Before any roof work starts, you must determine if an internal or external factor caused the damage. If it is due to an external reason like snow, hail, or high winds, try to find the parts of the roof affected by the weather. Roofing systems can be complex and sometimes unsafe to navigate around – which is why it is highly recommended that you hire a professional to inspect and fix your roof.
If the problem is with your roof’s internal structure, you need to develop an action plan immediately for a permanent solution to this problem.
Do You Need a New Roof?
If a winter storm has left significant damage on your roof or if your contractor didn’t do your roof correctly, to begin with, you wouldn’t want to try to fix the problem yourself. Your best defense against weather-related problems is taking advantage of affordable roof maintenance services and repairs before these issues become more extensive problems down the line.
Matute Roofing is the best in the business, and we can prove it. Our team comprises experienced, GAF Master Elite® certified professionals who are committed to providing top-notch service that will keep your roof in tip-top shape. From our comprehensive inspections to our affordable roof repair services, we make sure to let you know precisely what needs to be done without hurting your wallet.
With over 20 years of experience serving homes and businesses in New Jersey, we take pride in being reliable and trustworthy in all aspects of our work – from customer service to quality assurance. You can rest easy knowing that your home is in good hands when working with us.
Call us at (973) 618-6489 for more information or email us at info@matuteroofing.com. We look forward to hearing from you!