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Ohio's winters bring snow, ice, and wind, all of which can damage the roofing system. This winter, make sure to check your seamless gutters, shingles, and entire roofing to look for imperfections. Check out the guide below to learn some winter roof maintenance tips.

How to Maintain Your Roof in the Winter

1. Inspect the Gutters

Seamless gutters are susceptible to harsh winter conditions throughout the season. From freezing to carrying heavy icicles, the gutter system can sustain cracks, holes, and other damage. To prevent the system from tearing off the roof due to the weight of icicles, grab a broom and break them off immediately.

Ice dams also form near the gutters. When snow can't drain properly from the roof, a ridge of ice forms near the edge. This can lead to roof damage, including leaks and collapsed seamless gutters. Clean out the passageways and remove debris to allow melting snow to pass through. If your gutters sustain any damage, replace them to prevent future issues.

2. Replace Missing Shingles

seamless gutters

Shingles protect the underlayment from showing, so when one or more are missing or broken, the underlayment is exposed to the elements. When inspecting your roof, look for broken, missing, warped, and curled shingles.

When removing ice dams or extra snow from the roof, make sure to do it very carefully with a broom. Using a rake or any other tool with hard bristles may cause the shingles to come out of place and eventually fall.

3. Check the Flashing

The flashing on the roof connects other components to the system, including skylights, chimneys, and vents. When the flashing is damaged, water can leak inside the home and cause damage, including mold growth.

Inspect the flashing throughout the season by looking for areas where snow seems to melt. If there are sporadic patches of melted snow, safely check to ensure the flashing underneath isn't damaged. Check out the ceiling or attic underneath the melting snow to look for signs of leaks, including water damage on the ceiling and wall, mold growth, or visible leaking water.

 

If you need roofing materials to patch up the roof this winter, head to Engel's Hardware & Lumber. Serving homeowners in Cincinnati, OH, and the surrounding areas, these professionals offer an array of building materials for roofing systems, including seamless gutters. Call (513) 353-1711 to ask about their inventory or visit them online to browse their services. 

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