Bearing the Seasons - Make Sure Your Flat Roof is Winter Proof

When the days start to get shorter and the nights get colder, it’s time to think about your flat roof and how it will survive the winter. A flat roof has a number of advantages and it looks sleek and modern on your home – but there are a few considerations that you need to keep in mind if you own one.

Because of its shape, your flat roof will collect more rain and snow than a sloped roof, which can become a problem in the harsh winter weather. Over time, this snow and rain can build up on your roof and can cause problems, such as leaks, blistering and much more.

Before Santa Claus comes to town and the white fluffy flakes start falling from the sky, it is important to take measures to protect your roof against snow, rain and wind. Here are some of the things that you can do to keep your roof from Marcus Roofing safe in the winter:

Removing Debris

One of the first things that you can do to prepare your roof for winter is to sweep it clear of debris. This includes any leaves, twigs or small branches that might have fallen on the roof. The problem with debris is that it blocks the draining of the roof and causes water and snow to collect in large pools. This adds a lot of stress to the roof and will increase the chance of leaks. This applies to all types of flat roofs, including rubber membrane or traditional bitumen roofs.

Be careful not to apply too much pressure when you are sweeping the roof, because this can damage the delicate roofing membrane. If you find that there is any dirt or fallen leaves in your drain hub, you can gently scoop this debris out by hand and then spray in order to dislodge blockage.

Trimming the Trees

If you have any tree limbs that hang over your roof, you should trim them before winter hits. This will reduce your chance of any broken limbs falling and damaging your roof. Also, it will cut back on the amount of debris, such as twigs, leaves and needles, falling on the roof – so you won’t have to worry about pooling water and clogged drain spouts as much.

Removing the Moss

It is also very important that you remove the moss from your flat roof, as this will cause damage in the winter as well. When moss is growing on the roof, it will expand and contract as the winter temperatures fluctuate – which will cause cracks in the surface of the roof and allow water to get inside. Also, the moss will fall into the gutters and cause blockages, which can also be a problem.

Every autumn before winter comes; you should give your roof a good cleaning with a concentrated moss killer. All you will need is a brush, bucket and sprayer – so make sure that you perform this important task at least every 12 months.

Watch Out for Blisters

When you are inspecting and cleaning your roof in anticipation for the winter, make sure that you check it for blisters. These are mushy pockets of water that are disguised underneath the layers of roofing. When these pockets form on your roof, they will need to be cut out and replaced.

Also, you should watch out for cracked surfaces, which will indicate that you need to make a new application of roofing tar. If this is the case, it is recommended that you contact a professional roofing contractor who specialises in flat roof construction.

Monitoring is Important

Now that you have prepared your roof for the winter, you will need to keep a close eye on it to make sure that no problems develop. Watch for any snow or water pooling and remove debris as often as you can. If there is a particularly heavy snowfall, you might even want to remove some of the snow from the roof so that the weight of it doesn’t damage the flat roof.

These are just a few of the important things that you should do to make sure that your flat roof survives the winter without any damage – so that it can keep you and your family warm and dry.