The Ice Is Coming; Prepare Your Roof Today!

Most people from out of state think of Colorado’s winters as a snow-covered paradise, but those of us who live here know how much of a pain it can be. The snowfall brings a lot of extra hazards, and ice makes life difficult as well as increases the chance of an injury. Both snow and ice can present huge issues for your home, particularly your roof where they can settle and stay for months on end and cause serious damage.

With winter approaching quickly, it’s time to start preparing your home for what winter may hold. On this blog, we’ll discuss a few simple things you can do now in order to prepare your roof for the months of winter up ahead.

Have Your Roof Inspected

The first thing you should do is have your roof inspected by a professional Colorado Springs roofer. A roof inspection will let you know about what condition your roof is in and what repairs are needed in order to make sure your roof is ready to withstand the months of exposure to snow and ice.

Perhaps the most important part of an inspection is checking the structure of your roof to make sure that it’s capable of withstanding the extra weight that snow and ice can add. When as much as two or three feet of snow can accumulate on your roof, your roof will have to be able to withstand hundreds of extra pounds of weight, and that’s no small task. However, your inspector will also look for signs of leaks, cracks, water damage, and many other potential indicators of damage that may result in damage to your roof or your home.

Clean Your Gutters

Yeah, we get it: gutter cleaning isn’t the most pleasant job as a homeowner. But if you put it off, you could pay dearly for it later. Your rain gutters will fill up with everything from dirt and mud to leaves, sticks, bugs, and much more, and this debris can prevent your gutters from working properly and carrying water away from your home when rain starts to fall or snow and ice start to melt. When this water can’t flow away, it builds up and becomes heavy, potentially risking breaking off your roof completely. Likewise, buildup causes flooding, which freezes and creates icicles, which may look pretty but can be extremely dangerous should they fall.

While you’re at it, break out your tree trimmer or hedge shears and trim away any branches that are hanging over your roof if possible. Leaves, needles, sticks, branches, and more can fall into your gutters and block them up, even after you just finished cleaning them out.

Check Ventilation & Insulation

Your inspection will probably advise you if either of these things are prudent, but the last thing you should do is check your attic ventilation and insulation levels. Ventilation is critical because without it, moisture in your attic will condensate and cause mold, mildew, and even contribute to structural rot. The last thing you want during winter is for your roof to give out under the weight of the snow and ice that has accumulated on it.

Insulation is also critical. The number one cause of ice dams is improper insulation between your attic and the rest of your home below: when the heat from inside your home rises, it raises the temperature of the high points of your roof, causing the snow there to melt in to water. As the water trickles downward, it re-freezes and turns into a dreaded ice dam. Insulating your roof and your attic prevent this from happening and can even help you keep your heating bills lower!