Pro Tips on Winterizing Your Roof
As the weather outside gets colder and the days grow shorter, it’s essential to start thinking about preparing your home for winter. This is especially true if you live in an area that experiences harsh winters with lots of snow and ice. Every homeowner should consider winterizing their roof as the temperatures drop and winter weather rolls in.
One of the most critical parts of winterizing your home is ensuring your roof is in good condition and can withstand the elements. Matute Roofing, a trusted commercial and residential roofing expert, knows how important winterizing your roof is. With an expert team of contractors, they will inspect every aspect of your roof to get your home ready. Call us today to schedule your maintenance or repair project at 973-618-6489.
Tips to prepare your roof for winter
- Check for Damage and Make Any Needed Repairs
Before the winter weather hits, inspect your roof for any damage that may have occurred over the summer or fall. Look for loose or missing shingles, cracks or splits in the shingles, or any other signs of wear and tear. If you notice any damage, now is the time to make repairs. Matute Roofing’s team is here to repair or replace your roof before any significant weather approaches. Repairing any minor problems can help prevent more significant issues from developing later, resulting in a more considerable dip into your pocket.
- Repair Damaged Flashing
One of the most common places for leaks is around the flashing. Flashing is the metal sealing the area where your roof meets a vertical surface, such as a chimney or skylight. Over time, the flashing can become loose or worn, which allows water to seep in and cause damage. If you notice any damaged or missing flashing, it’s important to have it repaired by a certified roofing expert from Matute Roofing as soon as possible.
- Clean Your Gutters and Downspouts
Your gutters and downspouts play an important role in protecting your roof from water damage. They can’t do their job correctly when they’re clogged with leaves, twigs, and other debris. As a result, water can back onto your roof, leading to leaks or even collapse. In the winter, this water backup can lead to dangerous ice sheets. To avoid this, clean your gutters and downspouts before winter hits. It would help if you also consider installing gutter guards to help keep them clean throughout the season.
- Examine and replace old caulking
Winter cold can cause old caulking to shrink, separate, or crack. Applying new caulking that can expand and contract in warm or cold weather creates a seal for critical junctures on your roof. The home’s interior will remain warm and dry.
New caulk retains its seal better once fully cured, but you must remove old caulking before a new application. You can scrape it with a chisel but be careful not to penetrate the flashing or roofing membranes. Matute Roofing offers maintenance programs to help homeowners keep their roofs in top-notch condition.
- Trim Back Trees and Shrubs
If you have trees or shrubs near your home, now is the time to trim them. Overhanging branches can damage your roof if they fall during a winter storm. They can also provide a way for squirrels and raccoons to get onto your roof, which can cause even more damage.
Homeowners need to be aware of the dangers of walking on their roofs. Shingles are not designed to withstand the excess weight. Trimming and branches removal need to be done from the outside edges of the roof. If a branch has fallen to the middle of the roof, be cautious when removing the branch and do it as quickly as possible.
- Improve Attic Ventilation
The roof sits on top of the attic, and proper attic ventilation is essential to prevent ice from accumulating on the roof. There is a trick to check the attic’s ventilation. First, close all ingress openings in the attic. Then, hold a piece of tissue paper up toward the exhaust vents. If you do not see air movement, there is inadequate ventilation, or the intake vents are blocked. A shift in insulation could cause this, or the vents may have been painted shut over the years.
- Add or Upgrade Insulation
While completing the winterization of your roof, it is the perfect time to inspect your insulation. Look for missing or damaged insulation, which can cause problems leading to ice dams. When hot air from inside the home travels to your attic space, and there is insufficient insulation to stop the heat transfer, the hot air meets the bottom of the roof deck. Once the snow on the shingles melts during the daylight and refreezes during an evening drop in temperatures, the melted snow turns to ice.
Matute Roofing is Here for You!
As you can see, there are many ways to ensure your roof is ready for winter. Not only will these tips extend the life of your roof, but they can also help protect your home from damage caused by the elements.
Thankfully, there are no more honest, dependable, and professional contractors in the New Jersey area than Matute Roofing. We are family-owned & operated roofing contractors with over 20 years of experience in the roofing industry. Our experienced crew will help with any problems winterizing your roof or questions about the process!
If you need inspections, repairs, or other roofing services, please call us at 973-618-6489. You can also fill out our contact form or check us out on social media — Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
