How To Prepare Your Roof For The Harsh Winter Weather

Winter weather here in Pennsylvania can be pretty harsh. None of us really look forward to the cold weather. It’s just one of those things that you have no control over (unless you move!) However, most of us aren’t going to do that, so we will just have to deal with it. So with winter coming quick, we think it’s a good idea to inform you of some tips you can use to help protect your roof through the winter months.

Check Check Check

Sometimes the best thing you can do to prepare your roof for the winter is to check! Below are some of the things you can check to help prevent damage to your roof through the winter months.

• Check roof deck for any signs of deterioration
• Check expansion joints for signs of excessive movement and splits
• Check exterior walls for leaks, stains and cracks in brick and missing mortar
• Check ceiling and interior walls for signs of leaks and stains
• Check HVAC units. Be sure that supply lines are free and are allowing warm air moving throughout the building. Check the HVAC ductwork, housing, condensation lines; make sure condensation lines are draining correctly so that water is not standing in the lines. Your HVAC system will play a big role in keeping your home properly conditioned through the winter
• Check for any penetration on the roof. Any point of air or water infiltration needs to be examined and restored to avoid contamination
• Check and clear all gutters and downspouts. Drainage problems during the winter time can be a huge problem. Make sure all water is flowing and drainage systems are working properly. If you neglect this, you increase the chance of water freezing in the gutters that could cause catastrophic roof damage
• Check the field of the roof membrane and redistribute all ballast across any bare spots. Check for any tears in the membrane and have them repaired immediately
• Check all base and counter flashing attachments

Many people will try and save money by doing these checks themselves and that is great! Just keep in mind, if you are someone who doesn’t have that availability, there are roofing companies that will come in and do these checks for you. Considering your roof has such an important role in your homes well-being, it may be better to make sure the work is done correctly.

Roof Maintance

Now that we have covered most of the things you can check to prevent roof damage, lets go over some of the maintenance tasks you can perform to also prevent any roof damage. It may be beneficial to flag any low curbs that are under 10 feet tall in height off the roof deck with a corner post. This will help to prevent damage when it comes to removing the snowfall. You should also paint any rusted metal penetrations and check all metal copings. Be sure that all coping joints are intact and not showing any signs of deterioration. Even though this should go without mentioning, you need to remove any loose debris from your roofs surface. Along with this, always have a thick bristled broom that can help you remove snowfall from any rooftop machine. One more thing you can do is remove any hosepipes from the roof area. These things will help you prevent damage to your roof through the winter months.

Keep in mind, as the colder weather sets in, the membrane roof system will become harder and less flexible. This will allow for it to become more acceptable to damage by puncture or sharp objects. Roof damage is defiantly something you should avoid at all cost. Roof damage can cost you thousands of dollars in damage that could have been prevented. If you decide to do the talked about checks or repairs yourself, be sure you are safe and have the proper equipment. If you can’t or don’t feel comfortable performing these tasks yourself, don’t hesitate to call the professionals that specialize in roofing. If you live in Pennsylvania or Northern Maryland, consider giving ASJ a call. They have been providing all forms of construction and cleaning services for more than two decades. Give them a call for all your residential and commercial services.