Winter is the harshest season of the year for your home, and your roof is the most at risk. During particularly intense winters, elements such as strong winds, heavy snowfalls, and icy conditions can threaten your roof’s stability. No one wants to face a nasty surprise in the form of a leaky roof when spring rolls back around, so it’s important to take active steps to ensure your roof’s protection. As a homeowner, preventative maintenance is essential to preserve the longevity of your home. The following tips can assist you in protecting your roof from winter’s negative impact.
Ensure Your Roof is Properly Insulated
Making sure you have sufficient insulation in your attic or roof space not only keeps out the cold, but prevents excessive amounts from heat from escaping. This can protect your roof and also reduce your heating bills. If you have an older home or you’re not sure whether your attic’s insulation is sufficient, it’s worth contacting a professional for advice. Many homes are poorly insulated, which can lead to a host of problems, including those that directly affect your roof’s performance.
Clean Your Gutters Regularly
Clogged gutters aren’t just a concern during the autumn, when falling leaves can present a problem. They also should be actively prevented during the winter to allow the free flow of melting snow and ice. Check your gutters on a regular basis and after strong winter storms to ensure that there are no obstructions.
Have Your Roof Inspected
We recommend that you have your roof inspected at least every few years and any time you notice warning signs, such as water spots on your ceiling. The earlier that problems are identified, the less they will cost to repair. It’s best to have your roof inspected before the winter season hits so any issues can be corrected, but springtime inspections can identify any damage incurred over the winter.
Remove Excess Snow Accumulation
Over time, especially when multiple storms with heavy snowfall occur in rapid succession, enough snow can accumulate on your roof to present a problem. Don’t ever use snowmelt products such as salt on your roof, as these can be harmful to shingles and other roof materials. Instead, use a snow rake or shovel to remove as much snow as possible from your roof when the accumulation is significant.
Prevent Ice Dams from Forming
Ice dams are barriers of ice formed by melting snow that refreezes around the base of the roof. Ice dams can be caused by insufficient insulation as mentioned above, but can also be a problem if significant snow accumulation occurs on your roof and is melted by the sun or rising temperatures.
Have Any Damage Repaired Right Away
While a few missing shingles or other seemingly small issues may not seem like a big deal, any threat to your roof’s integrity deserves inspection and repair before it grows into a significant and costly problem. Our professional roof team has over twenty years of experience assisting residential customers in preserving and repairing their roofs, so you can trust that your home is in good hands with North Shore Roofing.
North Shore Roofing is the answer when you’re in need of residential roofing services, from inspections to repairs. We proudly serve homeowners in the Boston and North Shore area of Massachusetts with everything they need to keep their roof in tip top shape for years to come. For more information, contact us at 978-977-3816 or visit us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Northshoreroofingma/.
