winter roofing 101: a guide to your roof in winter

WINTER ROOFING 101: A GUIDE TO YOUR ROOF IN WINTER

FALL CHECKLIST: YOUR PRE-WINTER ROOF INSPECTION



The last thing you want to be doing in winter is worrying about the state of your roof. After all, the cold season often heralds in the holiday season and should be for relaxing with family and friends – a nice, peaceful end to a long year. You can’t just take things on faith and hope that nothing goes wrong, however; the first step towards a worry-free winter is to make sure, going into the cold season, that you’re not overlooking any present, or potential problems.

PART IFall Checklist: Your Pre-Winter Roof

Inspection



CLUES IN THE ATTICBefore going out to check on the roof from the outside, climb up to the attic and check for the following:

Water leaks - using a flashlight, look for dripping water and signs of condensation. Be on the lookout for water stains on your attic’s ceiling, walls, and floor.

Ventilation - faulty attic ventilation is a cause of many winter roof problems. Check to make sure that your attic vents are clear of debris.

Animal damage - birds and other small animals, such as bats, squirrels, and raccoons, can wreak havoc in your attic. If you see any nests or droppings (they don’t have to be fresh) or signs of gnawing on wood, insulation, or wires, contact a pest control professional immediately.

Structural damage - if you see any visible damage, such as sagging in the roof, schedule a roof inspection and repair as soon as possible.



SIGNS ON THE ROOFIf the attic checks out, check on the state of your roof from the outside.

Roof damage – look for patches of loose or missing roofing; these are areas where your roof is vulnerable to the elements. Depending on the material your roof is made from, look for curling, cracking, and loss of granules (for asphalt shingles) or cracking and holes in the material (for tile and metal).

Shingle granules – specific to asphalt shingles. If you’re seeing a lot of shingle granules in your downspouts and gutters, your shingles are likely near the end of their lifespan and need to be replaced.

Damaged or missing flashing – check around chimneys, roof vents, roof windows, and skylights for cracks or gaps in the flashing.

What happens if, after inspecting your roof, problems come up during the winter? Stay tuned for more on this in Part II.

Clogged gutters – make sure that your gutters and downspouts are free of debris.



It is a common, though mistaken, belief that roofers do not work on roofs during the winter. While not all roofing companies will necessarily be available to do work during the cold season, should a situation develop, chances are that you’ll still be able to find someone to work on

your roof.

PART IIThe Roofer In Winter: Coping With

Winter Emergencies


THE ROOFER IN WINTER: COPING WITH WINTER EMERGENCIES

EMERGENCY PATCHING: SHINGLES AND THE COLD

Short of a bad storm, the most you’ll need to have done on your roof during the winter will be some sort of band-aid solution.

While roofing work can be done during the winter, most roofers will avoid doing so, especially if they’re dealing with asphalt shingles. This is because asphalt shingles tend to become brittle when it’s cold out, requiring a certain amount of foresight, such as keeping them warm and doing the work in batches before the shingles get too cold. Also, the adhesive strips on the back of the shingles will not adhere in the cold, requiring certain workarounds until the weather heats up enough for the adhesive to work properly.

Should worse come to worst, the most likely outcome will be a temporary fix to tide you over during the winter, with a more permanent solution to follow once the weather starts to warm up.


THE ROOFER IN WINTER: COPING WITH WINTER EMERGENCIES

SCHEDULING WORK IN THE WINTER

If your roof is made up of anything but asphalt shingles, then not only is it possible to work normally on your roof, but it just might be the easiest and most practical time for you to do so. Metal roofs in particular tend to shine in this regard. This is because winter is typically the slowest time of the year for roofing companies; after the busy hurly-burly of roofing work in the fall, where full schedules might delay the work on your roof for weeks or even months after you call in, most roofers will likely have little or no work scheduled during the winter. Because of the lack of business opportunities, not only will scheduling work be easier and faster, but you just might be able to get better prices, too.

You made it through the winter, but what kind of shape is your roof in? Pointers for a post-winter check in Part III.



So how was your winter? Was it mild and cozy, with you tucked in all comfy by the fire during the cold? Or did you go through a patch of bad weather, and have to spend a hectic cold season worrying about whether or not your house would still have a roof come spring? Either way, one of the first things you want to do once the snows recede is to check on the

state of your roof.

PART IIIComing Out Of Hibernation: Your

Post-Winter Roof Inspection


COMING OUT OF HIBERNATION: YOUR POST-WINTER ROOF INSPECTION

SIGNS OF WINTER ROOF DAMAGE

Ice dams – if you’re seeing icicles hanging down from the eaves, then chances are you’ve got ice damming on your roof. This is caused by uneven heating and ventilation in your attic. You’ll want to check the insulation in your attic, as well as the exhaust vents in both the attic and your roof.

Ceiling stains – ceiling stains are pretty much a telltale sign of one problem or another, depending on the extent and location of the stains. If it’s confined to a particular area, it’s likely a small leak, an isolated case of roof damage, or a problem with some flashing. If you have stains in the attic ceiling, then you might need to check for problems with moisture, ventilation, and / or insulation; when combined with ice dams, it’s a virtual certainty that it’s one or more of the three. If the stains are on the ceilings above lower floors, then you might be looking at a problem with the plumbing.

Roof damage – this is a catch-all for the different types of the more obvious, visible damage or deterioration on the outside of the roof. Things to look out for are cracked, loose, or missing flashing; sagging and / or blockage in your gutters and downspouts; and areas of loose roofing material, or even bald patches where your roof’s shingles, roofing tiles, or what have you are missing entirely.

Aging roof – depending on the material your roof is made out of, you’ll want to check your roof’s estimated lifetime against when the roof itself was installed; if you’re nearing the end of the material’s lifetime, then you might want to arrange for a roof replacement. Even if your roof is still supposed to be good, outright signs of aging, such as deformation of the material, or a major loss of granules in the case of shingles, then you might want to get a professional opinion on the state of your roof.



UP AND ABOVE CONTRACTORS, LLC

2 Lower Hill RdNewton, NJ 07860

(973) 300-0636www.upandabovecontractors.com

http://www.upandabovecontractors.com

winter roofing 101: a guide to your roof in winter

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