It is important to prepare and protect your roof for the winter, meaning that inspections and other work should be finished by the time that fall hits. When snow, ice, freezing temperatures and biting rain are on the cards, it’s dangerous to be outside and at a great height, and the last thing you’ll want is to brave an icy roof because you didn’t get around to checking out your shingles before the seasons turned.



WHY YOUR ROOF IS VULNERABLE DURING WINTER
When the temperatures dip and the climate changes, just like it does when fall turns into winter, you have many changes to concern yourself with. Hot-to-cold temperature changes, particularly over a larger range, can cause swelling and shrinkage that reduces the lifespan of shingles and tiles. A buildup of heavy ice or snow also puts added pressure on shingles, tiles, and the structure in general, making weaker spots more likely to fall through or apart. This can then lead to leaks, and water damage alone can cause damages that cost thousands of dollars to put right again.

A buildup of garden debris, snow, ice, and other items can cause dams, which interfere with the draining process, again causing leaks and vulnerable spots. Your roof is also vulnerable during winter because that is when external forces, such as wild animals, are more likely to attempt to break in. Many critters don’t migrate to warmer climates, or hibernate. The ones that don’t need to find warm and cosy spots to survive the cold spell will look for somewhere warm to rush "home" to,, and that, along with steady sources of food, soon leads them right to your building.

WHEN TO START INSPECTING
You should always start the inspection process during fall, before winter hits. It is difficult to perform repairs during winter. During the inspection process, check for things like — a buildup of leaves or other debris in the guttering, shingles or tiles that are broken or not in their original positions, trees or tree branches that could pose a danger to your building or the roof, and that water is draining exactly as it should be. If you see physical damage, such as cracks, holes, or similar, they’ll need to be noted down and then repaired or restored. Anything that is not in good condition should be sorted out before the end of fall.

If you don’t know how to look for these things, or you don’t have the tools necessary to get up on the roof and have a good look, call around local roof repair professionals for quotes. Ignoring a problem with your roof will inevitable cause bigger, costlier problems further down the line.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE A PROBLEM
If you know what you’re doing in terms or repairing tiles/shingles/the roof, you could attempt to restore any areas of damage yourself. You must bear in mind that this job requires you to be physically up on the roof, and that means bringing a second person on-board, for safety purposes. Roof repair companies are usually cheaper than expected, especially when problems are picked up on at an early point — it means less in the way of materials and labour to put things right.

Some companies offer free roof inspections along with a quote for the job, and we advise getting a few of these. The cheapest company won’t always offer the worst-quality work, an the highest-charging companies aren’t always best. Ask questions, do your research, and read reviews of the company online. This is the kind of job that you’re only going to want to pay out for the once!

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