How To Prepare My Roof For Winter
With winter approaching, it’s time to get your roof ready for the colder weather. Roofs play a critical role in protecting industrial and commercial facilities, condominiums, retail buildings, and more from harsh outdoor elements – and regular upkeep is key in preventing costly damage and roof leak repairs. Here, we’ll guide you through the various steps to prepare your roof for winter to ensure it can handle whatever the season brings.
How to Prepare My Roof for Winter
Roofs serve as a barrier between building occupants and the elements, so it’s important to make sure your roof remains in good condition throughout the seasons. Following these few simple steps will help you avoid winter roofing issues and give you confidence that your building will remain dry and safe in the upcoming months.
Inspect Your Roofline
Preparing your commercial, industrial, or institutional roof for winter begins with an initial inspection of the roofline. Your roofline should be straight; therefore, any indication of sagging, curving, or dipping should be examined before moving on. A sagging roofline may indicate rotting wood or framing issues.
During the winter season, roofs can face snowfall and heavy rain exposure, causing stress on the roof that can lead to increased sagging and cave-ins. While a sagging roof may not be an immediate concern, it’s important to make sure it isn’t accompanied by leaks or other signs of deterioration, as this may necessitate a repair.
Examine Chimney Flashing
If your roof has a chimney, make sure you inspect the flashing. Chimney flashing seals the area where the chimney meets the roof, and this is a very common spot for leaks.
Check your chimney flashing for damage or looseness, and inspect the caulk securing the flashing to the roof for signs of deterioration and cracking. It is also critical to inspect the area around the chimney for signs of water infiltration.
Inspect Your Deck for Leaks
The first indication of a roof leak can often be found from the underside of the roof deck. If the underside of your roof deck is accessible from the interior, check for the following signs of leaks:
- Puddles on the floor
- Wet roof decking
- Water spots on walls or dropped ceiling tiles
Upon discovering any evidence of water damage, contact a roofing professional like Knickerbocker Roofing to get your roof back into peak condition before winter arrives.
Clean Up Debris
Sticks, leaves, and other debris can accumulate on roofs throughout the year. Without proper removal, this debris can become waterlogged and cause water damage to your roof. To prevent this, thoroughly inspect your roof for any debris and remove it with a leaf blower, your hands, or a professional roof cleaning service.
Clean Your Gutters
Similar to roofs, gutters can also accumulate lots of debris, such as twigs and leaves. Cleaning out your gutters is critical in preventing clogs and ensuring rainwater and snowmelt can effectively drain from your roof throughout the winter.
Remove Any Low-Hanging Branches
Trees with low-hanging branches pose a particular threat to your building’s roof during the winter. Snow and ice can accumulate on these branches, causing them to snap under the weight and land on your roof. Removing or trimming down these branches will prevent any branch-related damage through the winter months.
Get a Professional Roof Inspection
Minor roof damage can quickly transition from a simple repair to a complete roof replacement. As such, it’s crucial to get a professional roof inspection whenever you have concerns. Scheduling a professional inspection will help you identify leaks and other problems with your roof, allowing you to get them repaired before winter arrives. A thoroughly inspected roof is your best defense against roof damage in snow and winter storms.
Roofing Services at Knickerbocker Roofing
Proper inspection and maintenance of your commercial, industrial, and institutional roofs is key in ensuring they perform optimally throughout the harsh winter season. At Knickerbocker Roofing, we offer professional roof inspection and maintenance services to keep your roof in peak condition. We are certified with all major roofing manufacturers for contracting, and our highly trained team has the experience to repair various types of damage.
We understand that winter storm damage, leaks, and other roofing issues can cause downtime in your facility, resulting in decreased productivity and maybe even the closure of your business. Our 24/7 emergency roofing services are available to fix everything from minor leaks to major roof damage. Whether you need a whole crew or a single technician, we will thoroughly inspect your roof and provide certified, warrantied repairs to get your facility back up and running.
For more information about how Knickerbocker Roofing can help get your roof prepared for the winter, contact us today. You can also request a quote to schedule your professional roofing service.