Is Your Roof Ready for Another Indiana Winter? 4 Tips to Winterize Your Roof

These days, you never really know what you’re going to get with winter in Central Indiana. We’ve gotten off the hook with pretty warm winters for the last few years, but snow and ice are never an impossibility.

Whatever winter this year brings, make sure your roof is in fighting shape to handle it. Here are a few quick ways to get your roof ready for winter — and how to get a free estimate from the winterizing pros at Bryant Roofing Systems if you need a helping hand.

Tip #1: Clear Off Debris

Here’s an easy one. Take a walk around the perimeter of your house and keep your eyes peeled for any debris that’s been piling up on your roof during autumn. If you spot any branches, leaves or other random junk that’s been hiding up on your roof, it’s time to get out the ladder.

There are a few reasons why debris can spell bad news for your roof come winter. First, any big limbs you spot might have done damage to your shingles, which can spell leaks if not patched up. 

Second, piles of leaves and old sticks can get waterlogged when snow starts to fall. You don’t need to be a roof expert to know that big soggy heaps can soak through your shingles and ruin their integrity.

One place to pay extra attention is behind your chimney. Most modern houses have what’s called a chimney cricket installed. A cricket is an angled slope behind your chimney that keeps water and debris from getting stuck back there.

Chimney crickets were optional until 2012, when the International Building Code made them mandatory for certain roofs. If your roof was replaced before 2012, there’s a good chance you don’t have a cricket — and you might want to consider getting one before winter strikes Central Indiana.

Tip #2: Clean Your Gutters

We know. Digging through the muck that’s built up in your gutters is nobody’s idea of a good time. But clearing out the leafy debris that built up throughout fall is one of the best ways to give your roof a hand before winter weather hits.

When snow and ice build up on your roof, it’s only got one place to go when it melts: down. If your gutters are clogged, all that water will build up and overflow, then refreeze as dangerous icy patches all around your home. 

And the water that doesn’t overflow will refreeze right there in your gutters. All that weight can bring gutters crashing down — not a fun project to tackle during warm weather, and especially more miserable when it’s freezing outside.

Do yourself a favor and grab a ladder and a bucket before cold weather creeps in.

Tip #3: Check for Leak Danger Zones

It’s not just a leaky roof itself that puts you at danger of springing a leak indoors. The flashing on your roof is the most likely culprit, which is a much simpler fix than traditional roof leaks.

Flashing is the strip of metal that seals the spots where your chimney meets your roof. The goal is to prevent the elements from sneaking in through the cracks between your chimney and roof, but loose or damaged flashing can cause snow and ice to melt right into your house.

You’ll find flashing around other roof fixtures, too, like skylights, attic vents and plumbing vents. Hop up on your roof (safely, of course) and look for any signs that your flashing is coming loose — or if the flashing is missing entirely.

Flashing issues spell pricey leaks at wintertime, so fall is the best time to get them patched up.

Tip #4: Get a Free Professional Inspection

There are some things you can do yourself to get your roof in tip-top shape for winter, but some things are best left to a professional. Shingle damage, major dents, storm damage — that’s the stuff that means you need to call in a reputable local roofer.

One thing to look out for: a lot of Indianapolis roofers charge an inspection fee just to come look at your roof. We think that’s a pretty BS way to do things. Here at Bryant Roofing Systems we don’t charge you a dime to inspect your roof or to write up an estimate to get your roof winter-ready.

Get your seriously-no-fine-print FREE roof inspection and estimate, and let’s get your house ready for whatever the next Hoosier winter has in store.