Winterizing Your Roof: 6 Tips From Our Top Lakewood Roofers

We’ve gathered some up of the most insightful and helpful tips to get your roof ready for winter. These pieces of notable advice could make a significant difference for your property’s condition throughout the next few months.

6 Tips From Our Lakewood Roofers to Prep Your Home for Winter

To ensure your property is fully prepared for the next several months of winter weather, be sure to follow these helpful tips and tricks.

Clean Out Your Gutters

While this may sound like an obvious tip, it is nevertheless an important one to mention. Homeowners often overlook this maintenance task every fall, simply because they’re too busy or they just forget. However, if you forgo cleaning your gutters you risk damaging not only your roof, but the rest of your property as well.

Your gutter systems are in place for a singular purpose: to safely drain storm water away from your property. When your gutters become clogged due to an excess of debris, they won’t be able to properly drain storm water. That water will then overflow, spilling onto your soffit and fascia boards, as well as your siding. This water damage may then cause additional roofing problems down the line.

To avoid that kind of damage, you’ll want to clean out your gutters before winter arrives. In fact, the National Center for Healthy Housing recommends that you clean your gutters and downspouts in both the fall and the spring. So try to get into that bi-annual habit this year.

Trim Any Overhanging Tree Branches

Snow may appear light and fluffy, but looks can be deceiving. As snow builds up, it can become heavier and heavier. Sooner or later, tree branches can reach their breaking point and fall onto your roof, which can lead to some serious damage.

It’s better to be safe than sorry! While the weather is still nice out, take the time to trim any tree branches that may be hanging over your roof. This will help prevent those more serious instances of roof damage. If you’re incapable of trimming your branches, call in the professionals to take care of those potential hazards.

Inspect the Exterior of Your Roof

On a clear and sunny day, you should take the time to examine your roof up-close. The National Roofing Contractors Association recommends that homeowners inspect their roofs at least twice a year (in the fall and the spring). You may not be a roofing expert, but you can certainly spot clear signs of roof damage that need to be addressed prior to the start of winter. Just remember to stick to the appropriate safety measures and to prioritize your personal safety at all times.

You’ll need to systematically inspect all areas of your roof. Remember to pay close attention to your:

• Flashing - Are any pieces of your roof flashing loose or damaged? Be sure to check the flashing of your chimneys, plumbing vents, and other roof projections.
• Caulking/Sealant - Is any of your caulking wrinkled, cracked, or missing? If so, you’ll need to replace that sealant before the winter starts. You’ll commonly find caulking at most junctures of your roof and at any gaps or cracks.
• Shingles - Are any of your shingles loose or missing? Are any of them cracked or rotting? If so, you’ll need to get those shingles replaced or repaired by professionals.
• Any pieces of warped wood or any mold growths

Some kinds of roof damage can be quickly fixed; for instance, some loose shingles can be repaired by roofing cement. However, most forms of roof damage will need to be addressed by roofing professionals. If you notice any of these signs listed above, then you’ll need to call in a Lakewood roofer.

Take a Trip to Your Attic

An exterior inspection of your roof can only reveal so much information. It’s important to review the interior of your roof structure too, since your attic can play a key role in the functionality of your roof. When you visit your attic space, pay attention to things like:

• Your ventilation - Does the air in your attic feel stale? Can you feel a presence of moisture in the air? If so, there may be some issues with your attic ventilation system.
• Your insulation - The insulation helps regulate the temperature inside of your house and the temperature of your roof. If your insulation is falling apart or improperly installed, ice dams may form on your roof and lead to serious roof damage.
• Your rafters - Can you spot any beams of light peeking through your rafters? Are there any visible cracks? Do the rafters feel like they’re rotting or are worse for the wear? If so, your roof may need some serious repairs.
• Mold or mildew growths - These are clear signs that moisture has found its way into your home. If left untreated, the mold can spread to other areas of your home, which may contribute to the development of health problems.

If you notice any of these interior signs of damage, it’s time to give your trusted Lakewood roofers a call.

Consider Installing Snow Guards

This tip is not necessary for every kind of home. However, as we mentioned before, snow can become extremely heavy. As it builds up on your roof this winter, it can pose a serious threat to the areas below your roof. Without any warning, a roof avalanche can take place and cause significant damage to not just your landscaping, but to your lower roof areas, gutters, windows, cars, and even people.

Snow guards can help control those tiny avalanches by allowing snow and ice to drop off your roof in small amounts. These simple and effective precautionary measures can help keep your family and your property fully protected throughout the winter. It’s definitely worthwhile to consider adding these rooftop devices to your property.

Schedule a Roof Inspection With Reliable Lakewood Roofers

The best way to prepare your roof for the upcoming winter is to get it professionally inspected by roofing experts. Roofers will be much more adept at pinpointing key problems or areas of concern on your roof. Plus they’ll be able to make recommendations on how to best winterize your roof. And there are no better roofing contractors in Lakewood than our team at Michaels & Marc.

Our roofers have been repairing and replacing roofs all across Lakewood and beyond since 2012. We’ve made a name for ourselves throughout the Denver metro area as the most trusted, transparent, and reliable contractors in the area. We are committed to delivering the most exceptional craftsmanship and top-tier customer service for each and every client.

Contact Michaels & Marc Restoration today to schedule your free roofing inspection with the top Lakewood roofers.