Roofs featuring shingles made from cedar and other woods need proper care to stay pristine. Knowing how to winterize a wooden roof will help you extend its working life and protect the interior of your home from ice and snow.
Why Should I Winterize My Roof?
Winterization for cedar and wooden shingles brings a multitude of benefits. Winterizing your roof increases its longevity and maintains its appearance. Extending your roof's life span lets you get the most out of your investment. Savings-savvy homeowners will enjoy the lower heating and electricity costs they pay after preparing for winter. Your cedar shingle winterization routine will reduce the chance of leaks, cracks and other expensive damage that could potentially harm your roof.
Winterizing your cedar roof helps it withstand powerful elements, like hail, thunderstorms, snowstorms and icy winds.
How To Winterize A Wooden Roof For Winter
During winterization, you want to remove any chance of ice accumulating and causing damage. Follow these six steps to winterize a cedar roof.
1. Regularly Check Your Cedar Shakes
Ensure your roof is routinely inspected to check for loose or cracked shingles. Severely damaged or curling shingles can allow water or ice to intrude, causing them to expand and crack further and potentially causing leaks. Replace and secure any shakes in time for winter storms.
2. Inspect Other Roofing Components
Check other roofing components like flashing, chimneys, vents and decks for deterioration, leaks or tears. Address any worn joints, caulking or parts of your roof frame that are separating. Vents and flashing enable snow and rain to run off your roof, preventing ice dams and leaks that may cause internal damage to your home. Winterizing all your roofing components helps maintain your roof's longevity.
3. Remove Debris From Your Roof
Examine any slopes, roof valleys or V-shaped areas that may catch leaves, branches and other debris. These bits may cause blockages during winter, stopping snow or water from channeling off your roof as it should.
4. Clear And Maintain Your Gutters
Clogged gutters prevent water from draining away from your home's foundation. Pooling water can result in ice dams, causing damage to your gutter and roof as snow accumulates. Clear your gutters from twigs, leaves, nests and other debris. Check gutter fasteners to help protect your home further from leaks.
5. Check Your Attic Ventilation
Attic ventilation helps with air circulation and insulation, keeping your home warm and stopping ice dams from forming on your roof. Check existing systems to ensure your shakes are protected from winter element damage.
Quality ventilation systems will improve your roof's longevity, making it a good investment regardless of the season.
6. Trim Up Trees
Trim any tree limbs that are touching your roof. Cut down any trees that are rotting or leaning toward your home. A professional tree trimmer can help identify what trees could potentially cause damage to your roof during winter storms.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Below, we provide answers to frequently asked questions.
When Should I Winterize My Cedar Or Wooden Roof?
Many of the methods used to winterize a roof involve maintenance that should happen regularly. If your roof experiences slight wear and tear, routine care may only mean a few times a year. Regardless, you should dedicate a session to preparing for winter. Proper timing is vital to ensuring your work pays off.
We recommend completing the year's winterization before it gets cold, but not too early in the year. You want to get the most out of your winterization. Completing all the necessary steps before the temperature drops allows you to protect your roof throughout the winter. Consider winterizing in the fall.
Choose Certified Professionals When Winterizing A Cedar Roof
In most cases, it is recommended to hire a local professional roofer to handle winterization for you. Custom Shingles specializes in historical and unique cedar and wood roofs. Explore our advanced customization portfolio and contact our premier artisans if you are need of roof replacement before winter.