Winter is practically here, and it’s time to get ready for the change in seasons. That means getting out your warm clothes, making a holiday shopping list, and swapping the leaf blower for the snow blower. Another thing you should do is make sure your roof is ready to face the winter temperatures. Fortunately, at Divine Roofing, Inc., we are committed to helping local Colorado Springs residents maintain a solid roof over their heads this season. Keep reading to learn how to prepare your roof for cold weather, and remember that for all your residential roofing needs you can always count on our exeprts at Divine Roofing, Inc.
5 Ways to Get Your Roof Ready for the Winter
- Clean Your Gutters: Fall is the season when your gutters are most likely to accumulate debris, as leaves fall from the trees and often combine with rain to create a kind of sludge. This mix of debris can be very bad for your roof, especially when snow starts to fall and eventually melt. You could experience pooling water on your roof, as well as leaks and water damage in your home. What’s more, if it gets cold enough, ice dams could start to form over your gutters, which is extremely dangerous for everybody. Fortunately, by cleaning leaves and debris out at the beginning of the season, you can avoid many of these problems. You may also want to hire a professional to ensure that everything is tightly secured and your gutters are not at risk of overflowing.
- Trim Trees: It’s no secret that falling trees are one of the most dangerous hazards to your roof. However, even if your trees themselves are not likely to blow over during a winter storm (which is also possible,) they may contribute to the debris falling onto your roof and into your gutters. Plus racoons, squirrels, and other rodents will often use tree branches to climb onto your roof and seek shelter inside your attic during winter weather. To prevent pest problems, debris accumulation, and damage from tree branches during storms, your best bet is to have your trees trimmed at the beginning of the season, before the weather gets too severe to do it.
- Make Sure Your Attic is Well-Insulated: A well-insulated attic is the secret weapon of a functioning roof and larger household. If your attic is not insulated properly, your roof will become extremely cold, and ice dams can start to form on it. Poor insulation also leaves your home open to air loss, which not only means your home is chillier and less comfortable, it also forces your heating system to work harder, which results in higher utility bills. If you have not had your attic and ventilation system inspected in awhile, consider calling someone to do it ASAP. Everything from water damage to pest insulation can wear down your insulation over time, so it is extremely important to give this area a look periodically.
- Get Prepared for Fluctuating Temperatures: Cold weather in and of itself is not necessarily bad for your roof. What is more dangerous, however, is fluctuating temperatures. How do rapidly changing temperatures affect roofing materials? In the case of your shingles and slate, they are more likely to crack and break if they go from being snow-covered to dry in a short period of time. If the thin metal that makes up your flashing experiences severe water damage, the interior of your home is also going to be more susceptible to leaks. And if you have concrete roofing tiles, they are more likely to absorb and retain moisture, putting pressure on your roof structure. With all of these concerns, you will want to know what roofing materials you have before the season starts, and what to expect from them. For this, we suggest you…
- Call for a Professional Inspection: At Divine Roofing, Inc., we are experts when it comes to roofing conditions here in Colorado Springs. From rain to snow to sleet to hail, we understand how storm damage can affect your roof, and offer thorough inspections to determine how well your structure will fare throughout the winter season. If you need to make a replacement, we will act quickly to make sure an emergency repair is not necessary. And if you just need maintenance, we will provide the necessary service without any upselling or pressure tactics. Our local Colorado Springs roofers care about making sure you get the best, so do not hesitate to give us a call today!
To schedule a wintertime roof inspection, just dial (719) 497-1005, or contact us online.