Winter is a special time during the year full of joy and celebrations. Still, beautiful snow may cause some troubles to your home if you fail to prepare it well before the wintertime starts. In this article, professionals specializing in roof cleaning in Fairfield, CT, will share with you tips on how to prepare your roof in advance to make it serve you well.
How to Prepare Your Roof for Winter?
Effective preparation means 70% of the work done in this case. Professionals who carry out roof cleaning services advise you to do the following:
- Clean the gutter and roof from organic debris, especially if you have trees nearby. The fall time is usually marked by the leaves falling everywhere. If they remain on the roof, they absorb more water that will freeze during the wintertime. The leaves remaining in the gutters cause even more severe risks. They can easily block the water drainage, resulting in the water pooling on the roof surface.
These likely minor things will gradually lead to severe damages a bit later. That is why it is essential to clean your roof. If you are limited in time for making everything well, request professional roof cleaning services.
- Inspect your roof thoroughly. Once you have cleaned it, check it thoroughly. You should detect all minor signs of damage and leaks. Removing these deficiencies will make the roof much more reliable during the wintertime and for many years to come. The best option is to inspect your roof each season. However, at minimum, you should do this twice a year – before the winter starts and approximately in the middle of the spring.
- Check the attic as well. Draw special attention to your attic. The things you could miss during the inspection may become obvious from the state of your attic. If you correct any deficiencies and insulate it properly, you preserve the integrity of your roof longer. As a pleasant bonus, you will also keep the warmth inside of your house longer as well, reducing the heating costs at the same time.
- Apply protecting and waterproof coverage. These minor things will help to make your roof more resistant to rainfalls and the water accumulating on its surface. An extra layer of protection will always serve you well.
If you don’t have enough time to arrange all the necessary preparations for your roof for the wintertime, request professional roof cleaning services.
What Should You Do During the Wintertime?
There are minor actions needed to keep the state of your roof appropriate during the wintertime:
- Clean your roof from the snow. Once you see it on your roof, remove it as soon as possible. Even if it looks great, it actually creates a heavy load on the roof surface. In the long run, this can cause cracks and severe damage to your roof.
- Remove ice dams. Aside from the risks for the people walking somewhere under them, ice dams are also very dangerous to your roof. When they fall, ice dams can damage the roof shingles. If you are struggling with how to remove them carefully and safely on your own, request professional roof cleaning services.
- Draw special attention to ventilation. During the wintertime, ice can appear nearly anywhere, with vents are no exceptions. Making sure in advance that the ventilation is appropriate and there are no leaks there will help to omit the need for repairing it later.
- Put winter decor. Once you have done all the preparatory work and occasionally maintain your roof, you can concentrate on choosing the appropriate roof decor only. Make sure it is not heavy. But, would rather refrain from putting anything on your roof. Instead, place decor near your house and on the trees. These options are much better.
- Carry out slight inspections of your roof. It is essential to carry out surface monitoring to make sure there is no excessive snow or ice anywhere. If you notice some heating loss, make sure you carry out more detailed inspections, including your attic.
What Happens if You Fail to Prepare Your Roof for Winter in Advance?
You may probably not notice some slight changes in the state of your roof until it starts to leak or otherwise show signs of damage. Overall, neglecting these drawbacks may lead to more severe consequences:
- Safety risks. When falling from the roof, heavy snow may cause severe damage to people walking under the roof. That is why it is essential to remove it as soon as possible since the responsibility for keeping your house in the appropriate state always lies on the homeowner. If you are afraid of accomplishing this task alone, request fast and professional roof cleaning services.
- Security challenges. When you fail to remove the snow from the roof surface, you bear extra security risks for your roof and attic. The heavy weight of snow may cause damage and cracks. This will lead to extra repair and associated costs. The latter is much higher compared to the minor costs for regular roof maintenance. Also, keep in mind that some types of repairs are impossible to carry out in winter due to the severe weather conditions.
- Poor look. A roof with heavy snow on the surface doesn’t look romantic. It looks poorly maintained. There is no need to worry about losing the ”winter look”. There will be other snow a bit later. Being reasonable about the amount of snow on the roof surface is essential for its proper maintenance and longevity.
- Decreased value. The damaged roof will always impact the resale price of your house. Thus, if you plan to sell it in the short-term perspective, make sure you maintain your roof on a regular basis. Drawing special attention before and during the wintertime is a must-have since the most severe damages happen exactly during this time.
Bottom Line
Making your roof well-prepared for the wintertime is essential to enjoying a warm and cozy home the whole winter. The home is very vulnerable to damage during this time. Thus, failure to maintain it properly will more likely lead to more severe damages and decreased period of service that the roof can have.
Keep it clean and prepared at all times! If you lack time for that purpose, request professional roof cleaning in Fairfield, CT. We are nearby and ready to come and make you prepared for any severe winter!
