With winter quickly approaching, it’s time to start preparing your roof for the dangerous freeze and thaw cycles that occur during the long and cold days ahead.  A little preparation can go a long way towards preventing mold growth, rot, and costly repairs as a result of roof leaks. If roof damage goes unchecked, it could lead to structural damage, hazardous mold, and  property damage that can cost thousands of dollars in ice dam removal.

Before the snowflakes fall, go through our pre-winter checklist below to get your roof winter-ready.

Basic Winter Roof Maintenance

When preparing your roof for winter, it’s important to start with the basics. This includes:

• Removing any leaves and other debris from valleys and surfaces on your roof.
• Giving your gutters and downspouts a good cleaning.
• Replacing or re-nailing any loose shingles.
• Sealing gutters, downspouts and flashings.
• Trimming trees back and away from the roof’s surface.
• With commercial heat trace cable, create a melt path for snow melt water to travel from your roof to the ground and away from your foundation.

Below are routine maintenance tasks that should be performed at least twice a year to help preserve the life of your roof.

Maintain Trees and Shrubs

To help keep your roof in good condition, it’s important to maintain any nearby trees and shrubs. Debris that falls from trees can clog your spouts and gutters, or accelerate rot damage. Tree branches should be cut back far enough to keep them from coming in contact with the roof even during periods of high wind and snowfall.

Perform a Roof Inspection

If you’re comfortable checking your own roof, you can perform your own inspection. A few things to look for include damaged or poorly sealed flashings, roofing material that has become worn or damaged, exposed tarpaper, and missing or loose shingles.

While it’s possible for homeowners to perform this inspection themselves, calling in a professional is often the better option. An experienced roofer will know what to look for and can spot signs of damage or wear that the average homeowner might miss.

You may also consider having a professional roofer determine the life expectancy of your roof. Performing routine maintenance tasks can help extend the life of your roof, but ideally, you want to replace it before it starts leaking. If you know how many years are left on your roof well in advance, you can ensure that you have enough funds for replacement before leaks become a problem.

Professional Ice Dam Prevention Systems

Most importantly, you should always be aware of the potential for devastating damage due the formation of ice dams and icicles on a roof structure. HotEdge provides the leading ice dam prevention system on the market. Call today to find out how we can help prevent problematic ice from forming on your roof. (800) 411-3296