Shifting from the summer’s heat to the winters harsh cold can drastically change things on your roof.

With both routine maintenance and a preventative program in place, building owners can extend the life of their roofs throughout the winter season. Now that fall is among us and winter approaching fast, it’s the time to make sure your roof is prepared to take on the winter weather. Here is what you can do to prepare:

Know the History of Your Roof

In order to prepare your roof for the winter there are some key facts you should know about your roof. Its important to know how old your roof is, as a newer roof is likely to handle winter weather better than an older roof. You should also know of any large weather events that impacted your roof and maintenance that your roof has had in the past. Make sure you keep track of when your roof is inspected and know the last time it was inspected.

Schedule an Inspection

Commercial roofs are constantly exposed to the elements, because of this you should have your roof routinely inspected by a professional. Regular inspections will increase the chance of finding small problems before they lead to bigger more expensive problems caused by snow and ice. In the long run roof inspections will save you more money, so don’t test your luck and wait until winter is here and you have a problem before calling a professional.

Follow the Advice of the Inspector

A professional inspector will let you know any issues they see with your roof. It’s important to make any repairs right away that they suggest, to prevent any further damage or leaks. The inspector will also check to make sure your gutters and roof are clean and clear of any debris. It is important to remove any debris such as leaves and twigs as they can clog gutters and drains. If this happens melted snow will not drain properly.

Snow and Ice Removal

You should come up with a plan for removing snow and ice from your roof. If know is left on the roof it will melt and then refreeze, this cycle will repeat and cause layers of ice to build up making it more difficult to remove. This is will also become very heavy adding a lot of extra weight to the roof that could be prevented. Ice also tends to form around drains, restricting any drainage. You should check your roof frequently to make sure any melting snow is draining and not ponding on the roof.

Check the Roofs Surroundings

You can help prevent future damage by evaluating the surroundings of your roof. Check if there are trees close by that have branches hanging over the roof. These should be cut down before winter as snow can add weight to branches causing them to fall and damage your roof. You should also determine if any of the surrounding buildings will cause any drifts to pile up on your roof and if there is a way you can prevent the drifts.