How to Prepare Your Roof for Winter in Colorado
For a Colorado homeowner, it’s important to prepare your roof for winter. Colorado’s winters can be unrelentingly intense. If your roof is not in tip-top shape, you may find yourself with expensive roof repairs come spring.
The safest and most effective way to prepare your roof for winter is to hire a roofing contractor to inspect your roof. At the CRA, we recommend avoiding the temptation of handling winterizing your roof yourself. It’s dangerous, for one, and there’s a strong chance that any money you save without a contractor will be spent fixing faulty repairs later.
However, there are a few things you CAN do to make sure your roof is prepared for winter. Below we will discuss those things and walk you through how best to prepare your roof for winter in Colorado.
What You Can do to Prepare Your Roof for Winter
As the seasons change and the weather begins to cool, there are a couple of things you can safely do as a homeowner to prepare your roof for winter. With snow and freezing temperatures on the way, maintaining an awareness of the condition of your roof is key to preventing minor repairs from becoming a total roof replacement. Consider the following:
- Tend to the trees. If you have large trees around your house, plan to trim any branches that hang over your roof. During the winter, snow can accumulate on those branches, potentially causing them to break and crash onto your roof. Consider hiring a landscaping company to take care of any large branches you cannot safely reach.
- Visualize the roof line. Without tromping about on your roof, you can spot signs of roof damage from the safety of the ground. Examine the roof line looking for any dips or sagging – your roof line should be nice and straight. Look for peeling shingles and damaged flashing, as these can be signs your roof’s integrity is failing.
- Tidy the gutters. One of the leading causes of ice dam formation during Colorado winters is clogged gutters. If your gutters are jammed with leaves and other debris, snow runoff will pool in your gutters and form damaging ice dams on your roof. Water from your clogged gutters can also drip onto the ground creating an icy hazard.
- Peek into the attic. Take a flashlight and look for any signs of water damage. Look for discoloration on the walls or ceiling, wet spots on your attic floor, or signs of moisture in the insulation. Even the slightest trace of water can be an indication of greater damage laying just out of sight.
- Call an expert. The goals of the above-mentioned steps are to discern the health of your roof and spot any obvious concerns. Schedule a roof inspection with a licensed contractor if you discover any signs of roof damage. There are signs of roof damage that are difficult for an untrained eye to notice. A roofing contractor will find any damages you might not see and repair them before the winter has a chance to make matters worse.
Employ Wisdom and Call a Contractor
Your roof is a vital component of your home. It protects you and your belongings from the battering of the elements. You shouldn’t attempt to repair your roof yourself (see: 5 Reasons to Avoid DIY Roof Repairs). As we’ve stated, it’s unsafe and can lead to greater expenses down the road.
Working with a licensed roofing contractor to prepare your roof for winter is in all ways beneficial. Their thorough inspection will uncover any present roof damage. Additionally, they will clear your roof from any debris and make sure your gutters are clean and ready for snow. This simple service is crucial as debris on your roof and in your gutters can lead to the forming of ice dams when the snow comes. Put simply, ice dams are not your roof’s friend.
A roofing contractor is your greatest asset for preparing your roof for winter in Colorado. Further, it’s important to find the right contractor – one who has your best interest in mind. The Colorado Roofing Association exists to connect homeowners with trustworthy contractors. Choose from our member contractors and prepare your roof for winter the right way.