Preparing Your Roof and Gutters for the Winter

As the blustery cold approaches, it's time to prepare your roof and gutters from the impending snow. Don't let the current warm weather fool you, winter is on it's way and now is the perfect time to analyze your roof and clear out those gutters.

The following suggestions are recommended by GAF, North America's largest Roofing Manufacturer, which is based out of Wayne, NJ.

1. Check the roof framing structure to verify that it has not weakened. Focus on looking for uneven areas which may indicate damage to the roof deck beneath the shingles.
2. Examine the gutter system and make sure they are not clogged with leaves, debris, or branches. Clean gutters are important in the winter so that rain water and snow have a way off of the roof. If water and snow are stranded on the roof, chances of the roof leaking or ice damming is higher.
3. Guarantee that the gutters are properly attached to the side of the roof. Make sure they are fastened tightly so that no water overflows or falls off of the fascia board. A leak will damage your roof, but also the interior walls of your home.
4. Inspect the "valleys" of your roof and make sure that no debris is stuck or built up there. This can add additional weight to your roof and can act as a barrier to the rain and snow, leaving it stuck on your roof for longer periods of time. Leaks, also, occur more frequently in the "valleys" of the roof, so make sure they are protected by a proper roofing system.
5. Check to see if your metal flashings are installed correctly. Flashing is the aluminum or other metal material that is utilized in roof-to-wall transitions over joints; they prevent water from trickling inside your home and causing damage. Issues with flashing are one of the most common reasons for roof leaks. Flashing should be used around pipes, skylights, roof vents, and chimneys. Check to see if the flashing has been damaged from storms, or loosened or torn from high winds. It is important to inspect flashing annually.
6. Walk around the roof and inspect your shingles for damage. Be sure to focus on curling edges, missing granules, missing shingles, or destructinog as a result of birds or rodents.