Roofing Guide

How to Prepare Your Roof for Winter in New York

Northeast winters are hard on roofs. A little preparation in the fall prevents leaks, ice dams, and emergency calls in January.

1. Clean the gutters

Clogged gutters can’t drain — and in winter that backed-up water freezes, contributing to ice dams that force water under your shingles. Clear them before the first freeze.

2. Check the flashing

Loose or worn flashing around chimneys and skylights is a winter leak waiting to happen. Address it while it’s still easy.

3. Look for loose or missing shingles

Wind and snow will find any weak spot. Replacing a few shingles now is far easier than an emergency repair in a snowstorm.

4. Think about attic ventilation and insulation

Proper ventilation and insulation keep your roof deck cold and even — the best defense against ice dams, which form when heat escaping through the roof melts snow that then refreezes at the cold eaves.

5. Get a pre-winter inspection

A quick roof inspection in the fall catches the small issues that become big ones in winter.