While most of us know, winters can be harsh in Nebraska, and this winter was no exception.

Now that spring is finally here, its time to start examining your roof to make sure it survived the winter without any damage. While winters here can be bad, so can our springs. Its important to not only make sure your roof made it through the winter, but to make sure it can handle the rains yet to come. Being prepared and thinking ahead will help to prevent any roof issues during the spring.

Below we have come up with a four tips to help prepare your roof for the spring:

1. Clean Your Gutters

Cleaning your gutters is one of the first things you need to do once the weather warms up. Leaves and other debris from the fall and winter can accumulate in the gutters clogging them. This debris needs to be cleaned out so the gutters can do their job properly and keep water from staying on the roof. Cleaning your gutters can also uncover hidden damage you didn’t even know was there.

2. Examine Soffits, Fascia and Flashing

Fascia, soffits and flashing are probably something you don’t think about often, you might not even know exactly where to find them. Fascia runs along the vertical edge of the roof while soffits are located underneath the roof’s rafters. You should look for things like cracks in the soffits and fascia, as well as flaking paint. Flashing is used whenever there are two or more elements coming together on a roof. Places such as chimneys or skylights. Check that there is no rust and that all caulking is in good condition and not cracking.

3. Clear Away Debris and Examine the Roofs Surroundings

Its important to clean not only your gutters but the rest of your roof too. Clear off any debris that may have fallen onto the roof. Debris on your roof can cause damage such as broken shingles. As the snow melts the debris will also flow into your gutters blocking drainage, which can result in more damage to your roof.

You should also check your roofs surroundings. If there are trees with overhanging branches or vegetation these need to be trimmed. This will prevent debris from falling onto your roof and will help to reduce the amount of falling leaves in your gutters, making cleaning easier.

4. Examine the Condition of Your Shingles

Make sure to pay attention to your shingles as you are cleaning your roof. If you see any missing or broken shingles these need to be replaced immediately. You should also look for shingles that have edges that are beginning to curl. This can be caused from poor installation or poor ventilation. These need to be replaced right away to avoid any further damage.

 

It’s important to remember that not all damage can be seen and that small details are often overlooked by the untrained eye and sometimes its best to call a professional roof inspector to examine your roof. Don’t skip your yearly inspection, once you’ve cleaned your gutter and trimmed any overhanging branches, call a professional to inspect your roof.