How to Effectively Maintain Your Flat Roof in the Winter

Your flat roof requires regular and efficient maintenance all seasons to enhance its purpose and lifespan whether it’s commercial or residential. Winter is one of the harsh climates characterised by wind, powerful rain, hail, and snow that can inflict damage to your flat roof from season to season. These roofs are particularly vulnerable to winter climate because of insufficient ample pitch for shedding rain, snow, and other debris. All you need is a little bit of simple, effective flat roof maintenance to save time and expenses in the future. We’ve prepared a list of important steps to consider to effectively maintain your flat roof in the winter. Please read on.

1. Conduct Any Repairs before the Snow Hits

Don’t wait until the snow hits to start making arrangements to check the condition of your roof. Ensure to inspect your roof early enough to create sufficient time for the necessary repairs. You can perform an up-close inspection yourself to check for pooling, cracks, leaks, blisters, and billowing. Inspect the waterproof caulking for cracks, as well. Arrange to fix any issues as soon as possible to prevent possible further degradation of the roof during the winter.

Depending on the stage of the damage, you can choose to make the repairs yourself or seek professional help. In fact, professional roofers can help ensure everything is done right and can show you what to look for in your next inspection. But first, ensure to install effective fall protection, such as a post and chain barrier, for safety before allowing anyone on the roof.

2. Prep the Roof Drain

Your flat roof needs to drain efficiently throughout the rainy season. Your drains and gutters should always be free of leaves and debris. Debris can scratch and tear at the roofing membrane. They can also break down and form hubs of mould after being trapped under the snow. You should get to your roof occasionally to check and remove any leaves or debris that may have accumulated hence blocking the drainage. Cleaning is also necessary after performing roof repairs.

Ensure to apply a moderate amount of pressure when sweeping and cleaning the roof to prevent accidentally removing the protective coating or unintentionally damaging the roof membrane. You can schedule an in-depth inspection to clean and inspect the roof for any noticeable defects that could become major problems with time if they’re not fixed. But if you’re not comfortable performing the inspection and clearing the roof yourself, you can consider hiring a local roofing contractor to help you.

3. Shovel the Snow

All roofs have specific weight capacities. And as snow piles up on your roof, it constantly adds weight and could exceed the maximum weight allowed sooner or later. You’ll need to shovel excess snow from your flat roof once in a while, just like shovelling the driveway.

Billowing piles of snow can put your roof in danger of cracking and collapsing. The snow can melt and refreeze periodically hence it can seep into cracks on the roof and can cause springtime leaks. Preventing the cracking and leaks now will be easier and much less costly than doing repairs once the winter is over.