In Texas, the temperatures are getting cooler and before we all realize it, winter will be knocking at our home’s doors. Is your home ready? Most of us tend to be caught up in this season because it is filled with many activities. However, do we really think about how our home during this season? Is your roof ready to withstand the up-coming winter months? One of the most vulnerable parts of your house is your roof, which can sustain weather damage from wind, snow, ice, heavy rains, fallen trees and pests. Failing to make needed important repairs is one reason your roof can fall prey to these conditions. 
Check out the following helpful winter roofing tips.
Check Your Roof
Check for any roof damage. Pay attention to surface bubbles and areas with missing gravel on flat roofs, or missing or damaged shingles or tiles on sloped roofs. Roof leaks can eventually damage the wood sheathing and rafters below the shingles, leading to thousands of dollars in repairs. If you binoculars, it will help you to help spot cracked, curled, or missing shingles safely from the ground. Most people are uncomfortable looking for roof damage.
Contact Northwest Roofing, a professional roofing contractor to check your roof and flashing around chimneys to help prevent water penetration, skylights, and roof valleys for leaks, and the rubber boots near vents for cracks that can let moisture seep into your home.
Add extra insulation in the attic to guard against ice dams. When too much heat escapes, it can melt the ice and snow on the roof. When it refreezes, it can cause an ice dam, causing water to back up into your home causing damage to your walls.
“Many types of severe weather can put added stress on roofs, from high-speed winds ripping off shingles, heavy debris and ice getting caught in gutters, to the weight of excess snow,” said Jim Gustin, Senior Property Specialist, Risk Control at Travelers Insurance. “As we gear up for fall, there’s no better time to inspect roofs for damage, make any necessary repairs and clean the gutters to help prevent some of the most common causes of damage that occur.”
Clean Your Gutters
Clear your gutters and downspouts of debris. As the leaves fall, make 
sure they are not building up in your gutters. Gutters can often become stuffed with leaves, pine needles, and other debris that can cause water spill over the side, pool around your home’s foundation, and seep inside. Water that freezes in your gutters can force snow and ice into your roof shingles, causing severe damage and leaks.
Avoid the costly repairs that occur without gutter cleaning or possible injuries related with doing it yourself by hiring a professional to handle your gutter cleaning. The cost is about $300 a year for a pro to clean your gutters in the fall and spring. That might be worth it rather than risking a fall off a ladder if you do the job yourself. Make sure that gutter drains extend 5 feet from the house—and that soil slopes away from the foundation 1 inch per foot for 6 feet or more.
If your roof needs replacing, consider impact-resistant roofing materials, especially if you live in a hail-prone area, which yes, Dallas and Fort Worth areas are hail-prone. At roughly $3 per square foot installed, new sheathing would total around $6,900 for a 2,300-square-foot house if you had to replace all of it. Figure on an additional $7,000 to $10,000 to install new shingles, plus added costs if the roof rafters need replacing.
Trim Your Trees
Trim trees and remove dead branches so they will not damage your home if they fall because of wind, ice, or snow.
Clean Your Chimney
A wood-burning fireplace or stove may be cozy, but creosote buildup can block the flow of smoke and cause chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. In addition, even unused chimneys can develop cracks that weaken the structure. If your chimney has not had a recent inspection, schedule one now before you want to use your fireplace the first time this winter. Figure on roughly $150 to $300 for an inspection and a sweep. Go to Chimney Safety Institute of America for industry-certified chimney sweeps and check Better Business Bureau for complaints. Homeowners can save up to $5,000 if the chimney flue liner cracks and thousands more if there is a fire. You also avoid potentially deadly safety risks.
Get Rid of the Pests
It is unfortunate, but pests can eat you out of house and home! Termites literally eat your house. They cause more than $5 billion in property damage each year. Carpenter ants destroy wood by tunneling inside it. The best way to protect your home is to know their signs and the act fast.
Carpenter ants:
They are normally black, though some are red or a combination of the two colors. You will find them crawling around the inside and outside of your house as they search for moisture. Spring and summer are their busiest times, but they can keep munching on wood throughout the winter if temperatures are warm enough. If you see or hear them (they sometimes make munching noises in the walls), call in a pro. Also, cut back branches and plants from your house, move firewood and other stacked timber far away from it, and seal any cracks.
Termites:
These home wreckers are light-colored and are rarely seen, except when they swarm in early spring. Call a pro if you see swarming or wood that is soft, blistered, or darkened. Other except when they swarm in early spring. Call a pro if you see swarming or wood that is soft, blistered, or darkened. Other signs include mud tubes inside or outside the house, especially around the foundation. Go to Pest World to find an industry-certified exterminator.
Northwest Roofing Uses Only Quality Roofing Shingles
We only use the top roofing shingles available. Consumer Reports tested various roofing shingles and came up with a list of the highest quality roofing shingles.
Northwest Roofing has been installing the same shingles for years. We do not cut corners or buy seconds. We install only the highest quality roofing shingles. Our customers are happy and their roof will last much longer than their neighbors’ roofs because they chose wiser and got their money’s worth.
Contact a professional roofing contractor by calling us today. Be sure to ask about our free estimate by completing our easy Contact Form.
Protect your home this winter.
Contact Northwest Roofing(817) 439-3065 or (817) 614-1630