How to Prepare your Roof for the Winter, by The Roofing Channel on YouTube. 4 min 15 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 15 s
- Time to do it
- 3 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
What you need
Steps
Look over the roof from the ground for missing, lifted or cracked shingles, damaged flashing and any water stains. Book repairs before the first hard freeze instead of waiting for spring.
Scoop leaves and debris out of the gutters and downspouts by hand, then flush them with a hose. Meltwater has to drain away, not sit against the roof edge.
Clear roof valleys and any low spots where leaves collect. Trapped debris holds moisture and blocks snowmelt from running off the roof.
Cut back tree limbs that hang over the roof and aim for a few feet of clearance. Branches scrape shingles and drop leaves straight into your gutters and valleys.
Check that the attic has working intake and exhaust ventilation. Keep soffit vents clear of insulation and make sure nothing blocks the vents near the ridge.
Seal gaps around light fittings, pipes and the attic hatch, then top up insulation across the attic floor. A cold roof space stops snow from melting and refreezing at the eaves.
Check the flashing around the chimney, skylights and vent pipes and reseal any cracked caulk. These joints are where most winter leaks start.
Tips and common mistakes
Never walk a roof that is frosty, wet or covered in snow, and always set the ladder on firm, level ground with someone nearby.
Do not chop ice dams with an axe or shovel because it tears shingles. Pull snow off from the ground with a roof rake instead.
Watch for ice dams after a snowfall: meltwater refreezes at the cold eaves and backs up under the shingles, staining ceilings and soaking insulation.
Do the work on a dry day above freezing so sealants cure and you can see problem areas clearly.
Questions
When should I start preparing my roof for winter?
Do it in early to mid autumn, before the first freeze. That gives you time to book any repairs and lets sealants cure in mild weather.
Can I stop ice dams completely?
You can greatly reduce the risk by keeping the attic cold and well ventilated, sealing warm-air leaks and clearing gutters and valleys. No method removes the risk entirely in heavy snow.
What should I do if I spot a leak?
Get a roofer to look at it before winter rather than patching it yourself in freezing weather. Small leaks spread fast once ice and meltwater get involved.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
