Winterizing your roof checklist from EDCA Roofing

December 11, 2021
House with a snow covered roof

As winter approaches, it’s time to think about how you can prepare your home so that your family is safe and comfortable. This includes winterizing your roof. Take advantage of this time leading up to winter to inspect your roofing system and make sure it will withstand the high winds, heavy rain, and sometimes freezing weather in the Northwest. Now is a better time to handle this task rather than waiting until the winter to do it. You also do not want to risk damaging the interior of your home or putting you and your family at risk.

The best ways to prepare your roof for winter

Your roof should be in good repair, water-resistant, and debris-free as winter approaches. Roof damage from the hot summer could contribute to roof damage this winter. Moreover, debris on your roof could trap moisture against the shingles and fill your gutters, causing clogs and water damage. During the fall, you can inspect your roof, repair it if it needs repair, and remove debris from your roof before winter sets in.

Inspect your roof

Take a look at your roof from the outside. Walk around your house and look for problems like:

  • Shingles that are curled, missing or cracked
  • Sagging or warped areas of the roof
  • Shingle granules filling the gutters (this indicates that your gutters are deteriorating)

Although you should check inside your gutters for shingle granules, you do not need to get on your roof to inspect it. Inspect your roof attic closely if your roof appears in good condition from the outside. You should look in your attic for:

  • Water damage
  • Water stains, wet spots
  • Wood rot
  • Mold and mildew
  • Holes to the outside
  • Signs of pests

At times, it’s difficult to tell if damage inside the attic is old or new. The damage you see inside your attic could be old if your attic was once repaired from a leak. Make sure you are keeping a log of home repairs to refer to as a historical record.

Make the necessary repairs before winter

The most important step of the “Winterizing the roof” checklist is to make sure all repairs are made before winter. In some cases, that repair may require a new installation of a roof rather than a simple fix. It is crucial that any repairs or installations are properly sealed before winter arrives.

If you are needing a roof replacement before the coming winter, trust the roofing professionals EDCA Roofing. Contact us for an estimate today.

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