8 Steps for Getting Your Roof Winter-Ready

With winter starting to work its magic and temperatures dropping, it’s time to think about your roof. But how do you prepare a roof for winter? Follow these steps and enjoy peace of mind and protection from the elements until the spring thaw. 

No one said Canadian winters were easy, but between the freezing temperatures, ice, and snowstorms, they’re especially hard on your home. Every fall/early winter, you should be performing the maintenance that will help protect your roof through to springtime and avoid pesky leaks and damage as much as possible. 

How do you maintain a roof in the winter?

In our comprehensive guide, our local roof company experts will walk you through the necessary steps to get your roof winter-ready to withstand even the harshest weather mother nature throws at you.

Step #1: Perform a Full Inspection

Winter roof maintenance should be preventive, not reactive. If you wait to address your roof until you have a leak or damage, you could quickly have a much bigger problem on your hands. That’s why we recommend starting off every winter with a careful, thorough inspection of your roof and the surrounding area. 

Watch for missing shingles, cracked tiles, and other signs of wear and tear. It’s better to catch signs of wearing in the early stages when it’s still mild enough for a simple fix - the longer you wait, the more likely you’ll pay extensively for more intensive repairs and emergency service rates. 

Addressing these issues before Hamilton’s first major winter storm can save you major headaches later.  

Step #2: Clean Out Gutter Debris

As the fall weather shifts into winter, fallen leaves, dirt, dead branches, and other debris tend to make their way into your gutters. Since leaving that debris all winter can cause clogs, mold, and ice dams to form, you must do one final clean-out as the winter season begins. 

Gather the tools you’ll need to clean, including work gloves, a sturdy ladder, a trowel, a hose, and a bucket to hold the debris. Remove larger pieces of debris by hand first, then clean up the gunk and grime afterward using a scoop. When the gutters are all clean, use a high-pressure hose nozzle to blast away any remaining bits. 

Step #3: Inspect Your Flashing

Almost every single home has flashing - even ones without chimneys! You’ll want to inspect the flashing around your chimney, skylights, and vents, which can deteriorate with age and intense weather conditions. 

Pick a calm, dry day so you can safely climb onto your roof for flashing inspections. Locate the areas around your roof where flashing is installed, then check for signs of damage, worn sealant, leaks, or loose connections. You may be able to make some relatively minor repairs yourself or reach out to roofing professionals to ensure everything is sealed up tight. 

Step #4: Cut Any Overhanging Branches

Your inspection shouldn’t stop at your roof - you must also check the area around your roof for potential issues. If your trees have grown significantly, overhanging branches may threaten to fall at the first winter storm or heavy snowfall. Sometimes, all it takes is a little extra weight to take a big branch down, causing damage to anything unlucky enough to sit under it. 

Look for dead tree limbs and choose the safest route to cut them down. If they’re large enough, you may need to bring in some professional tree trimmers to help. You should also cut any healthy limbs that have grown too close to your roof. 

Step #5: Ventilate Your Roof

If your home isn’t ventilating to the outside well, you’ll see moisture, mold, and mildew start to form in your attic and home. And while your home builders should have installed ample ventilation, these vents can become blocked over time. 

Check your ridge vents, soffit vents, gable vents, and roof vents for buildup, removing any debris to keep the air flowing smoothly. 

Step #6: Insulate Your Attic

Now that you’ve thoroughly inspected and maintained your roof's exterior, it’s time to go inside. Check your attic insulation, identify the insulation material, and measure its thickness. If it’s a poor-quality material or starting to wear down, it’s time for an insulation update. Seal any air leaks in the attic and either insulate yourself or find an expert to help. 

When your attic is well-insulated, it helps maintain a consistent roof temperature to prevent the freezing/thawing that creates ice dams on roof tops. 

Step #7: Install Heat Cables

If you have a flatter roof or live in an area with heavier snowfall, you should take some extra steps to prevent ice dams from forming on your roof. 

How can I protect my roof?

Heat cables aren’t always necessary, but they can be an extra measure of protection if your roof is prone to ice dam formation. The cables warm the edges of your roof to help melt ice and snow so the water flows safely off your roof and down your gutters rather than sitting, thawing/freezing, and forming ice dams over the winter months.

Since properly installing heat cables requires some expertise, you’re probably best leaving this job to the professionals. You’ll want to create a cable route, install mounting clips, lay and secure the cables, and then connect them to a reliable power source. 

Step #8: Get a Professional Inspection

How can roof problems be prevented?

While you can perform many pre-winter maintenance tasks yourself, it’s always better to schedule a yearly inspection with a roofing professional who can catch all the issues that are harder to spot. Get your inspection in early so roofers have plenty of time to address any repairs or necessary work before the storms roll in. 

SameDay Roofing: Trusted Roofers in Hamilton

How do you winterize a roof?

Follow these steps every fall to safeguard your home, extend the life of your roof, and enjoy a cozy, worry-free winter. When the winter winds are howling, you'll rest easy knowing your roof is securely protecting your home and keeping cold air, snow, and ice outside where they belong!

Need some help with your winter roof inspection? Our Hamilton roofing company will take a deeper look and make any roof leak repairs before they become a winter emergency. We’re waiting to chat and start a free roofing estimate - call (905) 544-4667 today.