The roof is your home’s first line of defense against the elements. High winds, snow, and ice in the winter can wreak havoc on your roof, cause leaks to develop or even make the whole roof cave in. Follow this ultimate roof collapse prevention checklist to make sure your roof makes it through another winter unscathed.

Trim Nearby Trees

Trees are harmless enough in calm weather, but if a big winter storm hits, you could be in trouble. Take time to examine the trees on your property during nice weather. Look for and trim back any of the following:

• Dead trees
• Weak branches
• Hollowed-out trees
• Trees with mushrooms growing on the bark
• Limbs hanging over your roof
• Trees with V-shaped forks that could split under heavy snow
• Eliminate Dry Rot Before it Snows

Rainfall isn’t enough to cause your roof to rot. Problems develop in areas that stay wet for a long time, such as around the eaves and fascia boards at the roof’s edge where water can get in behind the gutters. You may need to replace rotted areas of wood to prevent the rot from spreading and causing roof failure.

Check for Roof Leaks

The first step to repairing leaks that could escalate into a collapsed roof is to find the exact source of the leak. This is tricky because water can enter and run down to another spot before it starts soaking into the ceiling.
If you have an accessible attic, team up with someone on the roof who sprays the surface with water from a hose while you look for water intrusion from the underside of the roof. Address any leaks you find quickly so you can have them repaired before it snows again.

Don’t Allow Ice and Snow to Accumulate

Assuming you have premier roofing materials installed, the roof should be able to support 20 pounds of snow and ice per square foot. Your Denver home may be designed with a higher snow load than this, but there’s no guarantee. You enter the roof collapse danger zone with 4 feet of fresh snow, 2 feet of old packed snow or 4 inches of ice. If these accumulation levels occur, it’s important to clear the snow and ice off your roof as soon as possible.

Clean the Gutters to Prevent Ice Buildup

If the gutters are clogged with leaves, melting snow can’t drain properly, forming ice at the eaves that can damage the roof. Either clean the gutters of all debris every fall or install a Gutter Rx to prevent clogging in the first place.

With so many things that can go wrong, it’s best to enlist the help of professional Denver roofing contractors. Contact us for a free roof repair quote to see how much fixing any of these issues will cost.