It is common for homeowners to neglect their roofs until a problem occurs, but if

you prepare your roof before stormy/winter weather arrives, you may be able to

avoid major repairs. Although prepping your roof can seem like a minor

inconvenience, it is worth it to get ahead of the weather and make sure your roof

is in good condition so you don't have to deal with any headaches (or a lot of

money) later on.

The roof is one of the most important factors when it comes to comfort in the

house most of the time. Even a small leak can cause problems, but what about

significant storm damage? Your home may be out of service for a while as a

result.

Winter is one of the most dangerous seasons for homes. Especially if you live in

an area where winter is usually harsh! You might end up filing a home insurance

claim if your roof isn't ready to handle the assault of snow, rain, hail, and wind.

The great news is that you can take small steps to secure the durability of your

roof BEFORE problematic weather happens. This will save you stress and your

wallet in the future.

The best time to winterize your roof would be just before the temperatures start

to get colder. Even if you forget, it's better late than never to get it inspected and

prepared! It only takes one storm for your roof to experience severe damage! If

you haven't had it inspected in a while, this is your cue to do so!

The bare minimum is just to get it inspected so you can assess and fix any

possible problems before they REALLY become problems!

Being familiar with your own roof is great! We encourage it, actually, so that you

are aware of potential problems. However, we do recommend that you also have

an expert team like ours at Southern Star Roofing and Seamless Gutters, who

are highly skilled and trained, to look out for things that you might not have even

thought to be a potential risk! We knit pick those fine details to insure that you

feel satisfied with our inspection and to give you peace of mind that your home

can get the proper diagnosis and repairs it needs.

- Shingles that are broken, missing, or damaged

- Leaks or stagnant water/ pooling areas

- Injured or inadequately installed flashing around the chimney

- Damaged or obstructed gutters and downspouts

- Holes or nesting materials from critters

Trimming landscaping and trees near your house and especially above your roof

can save your roof big time! Strong wind gusts can easily break off branches of

trees and send them flying onto and possibly THROUGH your roof! I bet you can

imagine what a headache that could be! Overhanging tree limbs can also clutter

your gutters and downspouts creating drainage issues and ice to solidify in your

gutter system. This can cause your gutters to start to rip away from your roof due

to the weight of the ice and leaves.

Oh, the joys of being a kid! This sounds like a perfect opportunity for those

youngins who are eager to make some extra spending money! Little do they

know the actual importance of doing this boring task!

Ensuring that your gutter system is clean and clutter-free is actually so vital to

protecting the function of your roof. Debris like leaves, dirt, and other gunk can

build up and start to decay causing structural damage to your roof. As well as our

ice-in-gutters example from above!

Living in the northern areas where there is severe winter weather and heavy

snow, it is important to ensure that your roof can withstand its weight of it. We

would recommend that you prepare your roof for more than your average

snowfall. Weather does what it wants and there's no guarantee that each time

will be like the last. It's better to be safe than sorry! Roofs typically have areas

that are more load-bearing than others and to avoid damage, it's a good idea to

reinforce those areas.

- Adding roof insulation

- Installing snow guard

- Add extra support to roof trusses

- Choosing to add ice and water shield underlayment on your roof

If you think adding roof support is something you'd like to do, contact your local

roofing expert, who can help guide you through your options and point out areas

where they recommend reinforcement.

If your roof has a sprinkler system on it, it's important to add that to your roof

winterization checklist. Start by draining the pipes and removing the sprinkler

heads, then repair/replace any broken pipes, and lastly cover and insulate the

valve box.

Flashing around your chimney provides a waterproof layer protecting your roof

from damage. Before winter hits, ensure that you have inspected the chimney

areas and its flashing and make notes of any damaged areas that need repair.

Ignoring these smaller problems can cause them to grow into bigger problems

down the road and can create more damage, especially during a snow or rainy

season.

Getting to know your homeowner's insurance policy is highly recommended and

can inform you of your coverage. This relieves some stress if you have

experienced any damages and have to make a claim. Talk with your insurance

agent so you are familiar with your policy and what the claims process entails.

This will help make the process run more smoothly when you have a stressful

incident.