As the mild days of fall start to fade away, everyone is hard at work getting their home, yard, cars, and family ready for the colder weather making its way to our communities.

One area that is often overlooked when preparing for the winter is your roof. A home’s roof is often it’s first line of defense when snowy, rainy, or windy weather rolls through. Five simple and easy steps could help your home stay warm and dry this upcoming season.

Step 1: Sweep off debris and clean out your gutters.

Gently sweep off your roof with a soft bristle broom or brush. This will help prevent build up of pine needs, leaves, dirt, or other debris.

Once the trees surrounding your home have lost all of their leaves for the season, clean out your gutters – or hire a professional – to ensure you have proper drainage away from your home during winter, rain or snowstorms.

Step 2: Examine the area around your home and roof.

Do you have any overgrown branches, trees or other structures in your area that might damage your roof during a rain or snowstorm? Move or trim these items away from your roof to avoid possible catastrophe during your next storm.

Step 3: Ensure that the flashing around your chimney doesn’t have any holes or leaks.

The area around your chimney is one of the most common areas for your roof to leak. Luckily, there are many easy fixes if the metal strips around your chimney are damaged. Call a professional to examine this area if you expect leaks. This can help you save this area and your chimney from water damage in the winter and early spring.

Step 4: Check in your attic for any signs of damage, leaks, or causes for concern.

When you venture up into your attic to retrieve your holiday decorations for the year, take a extra minute to look around. Do you hear water dripping? Do you see any discoloration?

If yes, call a professional to examine your attic ceiling and your roof. No one wants a water damaged Santa Claus suit for this year’s holiday get togethers!

Step 5: Get your roof inspected by a professional.

If you have any concerns about your roof, big or small, it is always a good idea to call a professional to evaluate the status of your roof. Most patchwork and new roof installations can be done in less than a week and can help your family stay warm and safe.