How to Care for Your Flat Roof in the Winter – Family Roofing

Posted on by David Reid

CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE – 202-276-5004   FAMILY.ROOFING@YAHOO.COM

 

A TRUSTED NAME IN WASHINGTON, DC FOR THREE GENERATIONS! EXPERTS IN SLATE * METAL * RUBBER * SHINGLE * GUTTER & DOWNSPOUTS

 

 

 

How to Care for a Flat Roof in the Winter

A flat roof gives your home a sleek, modern profile, but it comes with its own share of special considerations.  Although most “flat” roofs actually feature a slight pitch, they still collect more rain, snow and debris than traditional roofs.  Caring for your flat roof in winter requires more prevention – best performed in autumn – than it does wintertime labor.  Even in warm regions, you can take measures to bolster your roof against winter wind and rain.

1. Sweep the roof clear of debris, such as leaves, twigs and small branches.  Excess debris encourages water pooling, which puts stress on the roof and increases the chance of leaks.  Don’t apply too much pressure when you sweep, as this may damage the roofing membrane or remove the protective coating.

2. Remove leaves, dirt and debris from the cage-like drain hub and surrounding area by hand.

3. Remove the drain hub with an adjustable wrench and spray it clean with a garden hose and high-pressure attachment.  Spraying the drain with the hose will dislodge minor buildup. Run a plumber’s snake through the drain to clear clogs.  Replace the hub and repeat the process for all the drains on your roof if there is more than one.  Clearing your drains will prevent water from collecting on the roof during the winter rainy season.

4. Cut back limbs that hang over the roof before winter hits.  This reduces your chance of broken limbs damaging your roof and helps cut back on debris, which in turn, prevents clogged drain spouts and pooling water.

5. Inspect your roof for holes and indentations. Check the roof’s caulking along the flashing — the area where the roof meets masonry walls — for cracks.  Look for puddling or standing water, which indicate low areas that may need to be fortified.

6. Check your roof for blisters or mushy pockets of water between layers of roofing.  These pockets must be cut out and replaced.  Look for cracked or “alligatored” surfaces, which may indicate the need for a new application of roofing tar.  Contact a professional roofing contractor for repairs, if needed.