Tips on protecting your roof during winter

With winter just around the corner, it’s essential to ensure that your roof is protected from harsh elements. Even the smallest issues with this part of your home can develop into big problems when rain, wind, snow and ice come into play. Read our top tips on protecting your roof during winter now. 

5 ways to protect your proof in winter 

Weather conditions in winter can be severe, not to mention unpredictable. One way could see heavy rain and the next deep snow or gale-force winds. With this in mind, it’s vital that your home’s roof is prepared for all the Great British weather has to throw at it. Keep reading to discover our top tips on protecting your roof during winter.

Remove snow and ice

Even though snow and ice can look pretty, too much of it on your roof can be a major problem. In some cases, it can cause it to partially or even fully collapse. A typical roof when covered by two feet of snow can weigh around 19 tonnes. Which is pretty heavy. Plus, if rain, ice and sleet are allowed to add to it, even more strain is added to the structure of your property. With this in mind, it’s important to regularly remove snow from the roof throughout winter. This can help to keep it structurally sound.

Check your insulation 

If your insulation isn’t up to scratch, this can cause a number of problems. The biggest of these is ice dams, which occur when snow falls onto a roof that is too warm, melts and then runs down a drain and into the gutter where it refreezes and causes a blockage. This blockage can end up getting bigger and bigger over time. Potentially risking bringing down the whole guttering system. By insulating and properly ventilating your loft, you can improve the airflow in the upper region of the roof so there are fewer warm air pockets for the ice to form.

Replace broken tiles 

A couple of broken or missing tiles in the spring or summer months may seem harmless, however, the bad weather in winter can quickly exacerbate the problem. The rain, snow and wind can cause more tiles to break or fall, leading to leaks. Not addressing the issue quickly enough can result in water damage occurring to both the exterior and interior of your home. This can be much more expensive than it would be to simply repair or replace a few tiles in the first instance.

Keep your guttering clear

Since your gutters can collect considerable amounts of rainwater and snow during the winter months. It’s important to keep them clear of leaves, moss and other plant life. If your gutters are clear, water will be better able to drain through them. Which means ice will be less likely to form. If your gutters are blocked when the ice melts, the water can leak into the interior of the roof and eventually cause damage to the roof decking. Once water is in the roof decking, it can get into the interior of your home. To ensure your gutters work properly, make sure they’re fastened to your roof correctly. 

Inspect your roof regularly

If you want to keep your roof protected not just in winter but all year round, it’s important to inspect it regularly. This can ensure that you catch those small problems before they grow into bigger, more expensive ones. As a general rule, you should aim to get your roof inspected at least once a year. Ideally during the autumn. This will ensure that it’s ready for the winter months and the accompanying bad weather. If your roof is quite old, it’s a good idea to get it checked more regularly. Since it’s likely to have more problems than a newer roof. At Raven Roofing and Repairs, we can carry out regular inspections of your roof, checking for issues like leaks, ice dams, broken or missing tiles, broken guttering, chimney damage and structural damage such as leaning or sagging.  

New roofs in Louth 

In some cases, a new roof will be required. One of the most obvious signs that your roof has reached the end of its life is if it is sagging. Since your roof should be level, sagging in the middle indicates that the structure has become weakened. It needs to be replaced quickly as it’s at risk of collapse. Other signs that it’s time for a new roof are damaged tiles, water damage and leaking, algae, moss and mould, and insecure guttering. If you’ve noticed any of these issues with your roof, contact Raven Roofing as soon as possible. We regularly install new roofs in Louth and the surrounding area. Providing a professional and affordable service our clients can rely on. 

At Raven Roofing and Repairs, we’re renowned for carrying out our work to the very highest standards. We use the best, most effective roofing methods and the highest quality materials to ensure exceptional results every time. Our prices are some of the most competitive in the area too. With our services representing great value for money.

Contact us

Hopefully, our tips on protecting your roof during winter will help you to keep this key component of your property in optimal condition. However, if you haven’t been so lucky and you need roofing repairs or even a new roof in Louth, get in touch with us today. Call us on 01507 640 072 to discuss your requirements with one of our friendly team. You can also contact us by completing the form on our website. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can with the answers to your questions.