Have you seen the weather predictions for this winter in Northwest Indiana? Whether it’s supposed to be a mild, wet winter or a cold, dry winter, you need to be prepared for this winter season. That means making sure that your roof and gutters are ready to take on the Indiana winter so you and your family can remain protected from the cold. The question is: How confident are you in your roof and gutters?
In this article, we’ll go over ways you can prepare for this winter season. From roof inspections to attic insulation, we’ll give you ideas and tips on how you can make sure your home remains well-defended. Then, we’ll get you started with a simple process to find roofing contractors if you need one. Let’s examine ways you can plan for this winter.
Protecting Your Roof This Winter
The first thing anyone should do when trying to prepare for the winter season is to figure out what systems are good to go and what systems need adjusting. For example, if your roof is completely cleared but your gutters are clogged, then you should clean your gutters before the first snow. Additionally, it’s important to consider enlisting help for your winter preparedness assessment, like a roofing company. Look through these ways you can make sure your gutters and roofing systems are ready for winter, then read on to see our easy process to finding a reliable roofing company who can help you.
1. Get an Inspection
There is no better time to get a roof inspection than right before winter. Your roof could have lots of debris from the spring, summer, and fall that have gone unnoticed, like small twigs. Through a routine roof inspection, you’ll be able to ensure that your roof is good to go for this season. Plus, if you do have any issues, you’ll still have time to schedule repairs before the first snow hits. Your roof inspector will be able to tell you exactly what problems are occurring with your roof (if any) and will work with you to find the best solutions.
2. Clean Your Gutters Before the First Snow
With dying leaves, high winds, and lots of rain from the fall season, it’s important to make sure that your gutters are clean before the first snow hits. That way, you can prevent any ice damming or other damages from the cold that could ruin your entire gutter system. If snow begins to slide off your roof but can’t escape through your gutters, your roof could even experience damages. With clean gutters, you won’t have to worry about any clogs or issues with your exterior drainage system.
3. Keep an Eye Out for Ice Damming
Ice damming can be one of the biggest headaches in the winter. Ice damming blocks off the gutter system and can cause water to get trapped under your roof, causing leaks and further damage to your roofing system and your home interior. Most commonly, ice dams are created due to poor attic insulation. By ensuring that you have the proper insulation, you may be able to prevent ice damming. However, you can also rake your roof or use hot water or other tools to break up the ice dam and allow the water to naturally flow off your roof.
4. Look Out for Ruined Flashing
Flashing can be a useful tool for directing water off your roof to avoid pooled water damages. However, high winds and harsh weather can damage your flashing, destroying its effectiveness and possibly causing other leaks or damages to your roof. It’s important to look for ruined flashing, so you can make repairs and prevent any problems.
5. Get an Attic Insulation Inspection
From ice damming prevention to overall home insulation, attic insulation is essential to keeping your home protected. By getting an attic insulation inspection, you’re ensuring that your interior home systems are working properly, and you’re making sure your exterior systems won’t be affected. Plus, your HVAC systems won’t be forced to work overtime with proper insulation keeping heating and cooling inside of your house, so you may even experience cuts in your heating and cooling bills.
6. Don’t Underestimate the Lake Effect
If you think that because the winter is predicted to be mild and dry, you don’t need to prepare your roof for this winter, think again. Year after year our Indiana climate has surprised us with cold winters turning mild, and warm winters turning into polar vortexes. You do not want to be caught off guard when it comes to your roof, gutters, and home’s protection. The number one rule of being a Region resident is to never trust weather predictions, so don’t make that mistake this winter.
Steps to Finding a Quality Roof Inspector
Now that you know what you can do to prevent any headaches this winter, it’s time to go over our quick and easy process of enlisting help for your winter preparations. View our simple steps below, then get started with your search!
1. Find a Trustworthy Roofing Company
The first step into getting the services you need is to find a reputable and reliable roofing company that can deliver your roof inspection and your roof care services. It’s important that you look through their website and reviews so that you know exactly if their services are what you’re looking for.
2. Contact Your Roof Inspector
Once you’ve found your chosen roofing company, your next step is to contact them as soon as possible, so you can get started with your services. Their contact information is usually readily available on their website. When you contact your roofing company, you should be able to schedule your estimate.
3. Receive an Inspection & Make Plans
When it’s time to schedule your inspection, make sure you choose a day where you’re available to be at home so you can speak with your roof contractor in person. That way, you can answer and ask questions and come up with a plan.
4. Get Any Needed Repairs
5. Rest Easy Knowing You’re Ready for the Winter Season
Once your repairs are complete, you can relax knowing you’ve set your home up for success this winter. Next, you’ll want to consider thinking ahead for spring preparations.
Review: Is Your Roof Ready for the Winter?
Whether you’ve lived in Northwest Indiana for many years or you’ve just moved here, it’s important to take account of how your roof, gutter, and insulation systems are doing so you know if you need to make repairs or replacements before the winter season begins. From getting a roof inspection to keeping an eye on the Lake Effect, there are many things you can do to prevent any problems from occurring during winter. If you’re not sure where to start, you can enlist help from your local roofing company, Discount Roof.
Need an Inspector? Call Discount Roof today!
 Looking for a roof inspector? Discount Roof is your local, dependable roofing company, and we’re here to help. From routine roof inspections to siding replacements, we have the services you need to properly prepare for the winter season. We strive to make our prices affordable and our solutions reliable. Call us today to get started with a FREE inspection and estimate!