Before the Ice and Snow Arrive: Is Your Oklahoma Roof Ready for Winter?

Oklahoma homeowners spend a lot of time preparing for spring storms, hail and high winds.

But there is another time of year when your roof deserves attention:

Before winter arrives.

Once freezing rain, ice or snow is sitting on your roof, it is not the time to discover that you have loose shingles, deteriorated flashing, a leaking pipe boot, clogged gutters or an existing roof problem.

By then, safely accessing the roof may be difficult or impossible until conditions improve.

For homeowners in Edmond, Oklahoma City and surrounding Central Oklahoma communities, fall is an excellent time to have your roof evaluated and take care of repairs before winter weather arrives.

Bulldog Restoration provides professional residential roofing services (https://www.405dryfast.com/residential-roofing), including roof inspections, roof repairs, roof replacement and storm-damage evaluations throughout Edmond, Oklahoma City and surrounding areas.

When the Ice and Snow Arrive, It’s Too Late to Start Preparing

Think about everything an Oklahoma roof can experience during the year.

Spring may bring hail, thunderstorms and high winds.

Summer brings intense heat and ultraviolet exposure.

Fall can bring wind, falling limbs and temperature swings.

Then winter arrives.

A roof entering winter may already have months—or years—of wear that isn’t obvious from the driveway.

The first hard freeze shouldn’t be your roof inspection.

The best time to find a roofing problem is before winter weather exposes it.

Why Have Your Roof Inspected Before Winter?

A pre-winter roof inspection is an opportunity to identify conditions that could become more troublesome once freezing temperatures and winter precipitation arrive.

Depending on the home and roofing system, an inspection may identify:

    ●    Missing shingles

    ●    Lifted or damaged shingles

    ●    Deteriorated flashing

    ●    Damaged pipe boots

    ●    Loose or damaged roof vents

    ●    Exposed fasteners

    ●    Previous repairs that are failing

    ●    Damaged valleys

    ●    Deteriorated sealants

    ●    Debris accumulation

    ●    Gutter and drainage problems

    ●    Signs of previous water intrusion

    ●    Storm damage that may have gone unnoticed

The National Roofing Contractors Association’s roofing resources (https://www.nrca.net/roofing-guidelines/resources) recommend checking roofs during the fall and spring for conditions such as cracked or curling shingles and clearing gutters of leaves and other debris.

For homeowners, that makes fall an ideal opportunity to determine whether the roof is ready for another Oklahoma winter.

Your Roof May Have Survived Summer—but That Doesn’t Mean It’s Ready for Winter

Oklahoma’s summer heat can be hard on roofing materials.

Roof surfaces can experience extremely high temperatures during hot sunny days and then cool considerably overnight.

Over time, weather exposure and temperature changes can contribute to deterioration of roofing materials, sealants and vulnerable roof details.

Add previous hailstorms and high winds, and a roof can enter winter with problems that haven’t yet produced an obvious interior leak.

That’s an important distinction:

No ceiling stain does not automatically mean no roofing problem exists.

A pre-winter inspection gives you an opportunity to identify those conditions before freezing weather complicates the situation.

Pay Special Attention to Flashing

Shingles get most of the attention, but flashing is one of the most important components of a residential roofing system.

Flashing helps control water around vulnerable roof areas such as:

    ●    Chimneys

    ●    Sidewalls

    ●    Roof-to-wall transitions

    ●    Valleys

    ●    Skylights

    ●    Plumbing penetrations

    ●    Other roof openings

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Science Education guidance on water-managed roof assemblies (https://bsesc.energy.gov/energy-basics/moisture-barrier-and-flashing-roof-water-managed-roof-assembly-or-roof-water-barrier) identifies valleys and roof penetrations as particularly vulnerable locations for water intrusion and emphasizes properly integrated flashing and water-management materials.

A small flashing problem may be relatively straightforward to repair during good weather.

Discovering the same problem during freezing rain is a completely different situation.

Check Pipe Boots and Roof Penetrations

Every penetration through a roof creates an area that needs to remain properly sealed.

Plumbing vents are a common example.

The roofing around a plumbing penetration may look perfectly acceptable while the boot or flashing surrounding the pipe has begun deteriorating.

These areas should be checked before winter along with other penetrations such as exhaust vents and roof-mounted equipment.

A small opening around a penetration can allow water into the roofing system, where it may travel before finally becoming visible inside the home.

Don’t Forget Your Roof Valleys

Roof valleys handle concentrated water flow.

When two roof slopes meet, rainwater and melting precipitation are directed toward the valley.

That makes proper valley construction and condition particularly important.

Leaves, branches and other debris can also accumulate in valleys and interfere with normal drainage.

Before winter, valleys should be evaluated for damage, deterioration and debris accumulation.

Clean Your Gutters Before Freezing Weather

Your roof and gutter system work together.

Water has to get off the roof and away from the house.

Leaves, twigs and other debris can restrict gutters and downspouts, preventing water from draining properly.

This becomes particularly important when temperatures fluctuate above and below freezing.

The National Roofing Contractors Association (https://www.nrca.net/roofing-guidelines/resources) specifically recommends cleaning gutters filled with leaves and other debris as part of seasonal roof maintenance.

Before winter, make sure gutters and downspouts can move water away from the roof and foundation as intended.

Ice Dams Can Force Water Where It Doesn’t Belong

Ice dams are more commonly associated with colder climates, but the building-science principles behind them are important whenever snow, ice and freeze-thaw conditions occur.

An ice dam can develop when heat escaping from a home contributes to snow melting on portions of a roof. The water moves toward colder roof edges, where it can refreeze.

As ice accumulates, additional meltwater may be prevented from draining normally.

The U.S. Department of Energy explains in its guidance on roof eaves and ice dams (https://bsesc.energy.gov/energy-basics/eaves-sealed-cold-climates) that freeze-thaw cycles can allow water to back up beneath roofing materials and potentially enter the attic.

This is one reason the condition of the roof and the attic can matter before winter.

Your Attic Is Part of Your Roofing System

Homeowners often think of the roof as everything above the shingles.

But what happens underneath the roof can affect performance too.

Attic air leakage, insulation and ventilation can influence temperatures at the roof deck.

The U.S. Department of Energy notes that proper air sealing, attic insulation and appropriate ventilation can help reduce conditions that contribute to ice-dam formation.

Before winter, consider checking the attic for:

    ●    Evidence of previous roof leaks

    ●    Wet or stained decking

    ●    Wet insulation

    ●    Improperly vented exhaust fans

    ●    Blocked soffit ventilation

    ●    Missing or displaced insulation

    ●    Visible daylight where it shouldn’t be present

    ●    Unusual condensation or moisture

If you’re uncertain about insulation or ventilation, have the appropriate qualified professional evaluate it.

Look Inside Your Attic Before Looking for a Ceiling Stain

One of the best places to find an early roofing problem may be the attic.

Water doesn’t always travel straight down.

A small roof leak can follow decking, framing or other building materials before finally appearing somewhere else.

By the time drywall becomes stained, water may already have affected insulation, roof decking or other materials.

Before winter, look for evidence such as dark staining, damp insulation, deteriorated decking or signs of previous moisture.

If you aren’t comfortable or able to safely access the attic, have it evaluated professionally.

Tree Limbs Should Be Addressed Before Ice Loads Them Down

Trees are another winter roofing concern.

Branches hanging over a house may accumulate ice or snow. Weak or damaged limbs can break and strike the roof.

Before winter, visually inspect trees surrounding the house.

Dead, damaged or obviously hazardous limbs should be evaluated by a qualified tree professional.

Do not attempt dangerous tree work yourself.

A relatively inexpensive tree-maintenance issue can become a roof-decking, framing and interior-damage problem if a large limb comes through the roof during a winter storm.

Don’t Climb Onto an Icy or Snow-Covered Roof

This is another reason to inspect your roof before winter.

A dry roof during good weather is one thing.

A roof covered in frost, ice or snow is another.

Homeowners should not put themselves at risk attempting to inspect or repair a slippery roof.

NRCA recommends staying off the roof when possible and contacting a professional when conditions such as steep roofs, deep snow or thick ice make roof work hazardous.

If you suspect winter roof damage, evaluate what you safely can from the ground or interior and call a roofing professional.

Don’t Attack Ice With a Shovel or Sharp Tool

If ice does accumulate on a roofing system, trying to break it apart with sharp tools can damage shingles, flashing and other roofing materials.

NRCA advises against using ice picks, shovels or other sharp-edged tools to remove ice dams because of the potential for damaging the roof covering and flashing.

This is another situation where prevention and professional evaluation are preferable to emergency improvisation.

Check Previous Roof Repairs Before Winter

If your roof has been repaired previously, those locations deserve attention.

Ask yourself:

Did we have a leak last year?

Was flashing repaired?

Was a pipe boot replaced?

Did we have shingles replaced after a windstorm?

Has the same area leaked more than once?

Previous repair areas should remain watertight, but older temporary repairs, deteriorated sealants or improperly performed repairs can fail.

A pre-winter inspection is a good opportunity to verify that those areas are still performing properly.

What About Hail Damage From Earlier in the Year?

Winter doesn’t erase damage from spring or summer storms.

A roof that experienced significant hail or high winds earlier in the year may still have damage even if it hasn’t developed an obvious leak.

If your Edmond or Oklahoma City neighborhood experienced significant hail and the roof was never inspected, before winter is a good time to have that evaluation performed.

Bulldog Restoration provides residential roof inspections for hail, wind and storm damage throughout Central Oklahoma.

Repair the Small Problem While You Still Have Good Weather

This may be the biggest reason to schedule a roof inspection before winter.

Suppose an inspection finds one damaged pipe boot, several missing shingles or a localized flashing issue.

During appropriate weather conditions, that may be a manageable repair.

Wait until freezing rain arrives and the situation changes.

Now you may have:

    ●    Unsafe roof conditions

    ●    Ice-covered shingles

    ●    Snow accumulation

    ●    Freezing temperatures

    ●    Active interior water intrusion

    ●    Wet insulation

    ●    Ceiling damage

    ●    Emergency temporary repairs

Preventive roofing work is almost always preferable to emergency roofing work during an Oklahoma winter storm.

A Roof Leak Can Quickly Become a Water-Damage Problem

Once water gets through the roofing system, the problem is no longer limited to the roof.

Water may affect:

    ●    Roof decking

    ●    Rafters or trusses

    ●    Attic insulation

    ●    Ceilings

    ●    Drywall

    ●    Electrical areas

    ●    Flooring

    ●    Cabinets

    ●    Furniture

    ●    Personal belongings

That is one advantage of working with Bulldog Restoration.

We handle both roofing and property restoration.

If a winter roof leak causes interior water damage, Bulldog Restoration also provides water damage restoration in Oklahoma City (https://www.405dryfast.com/oklahoma-city-water), including emergency water extraction, moisture detection and structural drying.