11 Ways to Prepare Your Roof Before Winter Weather Hits

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A roof is your home’s first defense against the cold, snow, and ice. When issues like a missing shingle or clogged gutter go unchecked, they can lead to leaks and interior damage once winter sets in, says Jon Abernathy, director of contractor engagement at​ TAMKO and a former contractor for over ​20 years. “Ice buildup, frozen shingles, and heavy snow can quickly turn minor wear into major problems, but prepping your roof can help it last longer and save you money on repairs, keeping your home warmer throughout the season,” he explains.

To prepare your home’s roof for winter, thoroughly clean gutters and the roof itself, check attic insulation and ventilation, repair any damaged shingles, and consider installing preventative measures like heat cables or snow guards to prevent ice dams. “Getting ahead of winter can help you avoid emergency repairs and, in the end, leave you feeling more confident that your roof will last through anything winter brings,” says Abernathy.

We’ve pinpointed the following products to help you prepare your roof for winter weather.

Removing debris from gutters is the first step to preparing your roof for winter weather. The Gutter Tool is a simple and effective manual gadget designed to be lightweight to prevent an overly heavy end on an extension pole, but durable if dropped. Constructed out of sturdy plastic, this device screws onto the end of an extension pole or broomstick so you can easily drag debris to one central location for removal.

What our tester says: “I found the Gutter Tool to be one of the easiest gutter cleaner tools to set up and use. It’s lightweight but durable, making it easy to manipulate, yet hardy. I felt the spoon did a good job of pulling the debris to where my ladder was located. Whenever I reached a bracket, I found it easy to flip the tool over to use the scoop and push it under the bracket.” – Tony Carrick, Bob Vila Product Tester & Writer

Gutter guards help prevent clogs caused by decomposing leaves, twigs, pine needles, and other debris, and keep rainwater flowing through downspouts. The Raptor Gutter Guard is made from durable stainless steel mesh, which blocks everything from leaves and pine needles to tiny windblown seeds. Each kit comes with 48 feet of coverage in manageable 5-foot strips, along with self-tapping hex screws and the driver bit you’ll need for installation. The guard offers flexible installation options—it can slide under the shingles or mount directly across the gutter edge—making it a versatile fit for different rooflines. It’s also easy to remove if you want to clean out the gutters directly.

What our tester says: “Overall, Raptor combines durability, effective filtration, and DIY-friendly design, making it one of the most dependable gutter guard systems we tested. During testing, the mesh stayed taut thanks to Raptor’s V-Bend technology, which strengthens the screen and prevents sagging under heavy debris. While cutting the stainless steel sections to size took some muscle (a reminder of the product’s sturdiness), once installed, the guards were easy to maintain.” – Tony Carrick, Bob Vila Product Tester & Writer

This four-piece Wet/Dry Vacuum Gutter Cleaning Kit by Craftsman comes with two 18-inch extension wands, a hooked gutter nozzle, and a blower nozzle for concentrating the shop vac’s blower volume. It will fit a wet/dry vac with a 2.5-inch outlet, so it’s compatible with most shop vac extensions to reach higher than the kit alone allows. It is highly effective at clearing leaves and debris by blowing or suctioning with less physical work when using a vacuum alone.

What our tester says: “This kit from Craftsman was one of my favorite surprises in testing. I hooked it up to a 5.5-horsepower wet/dry vac’s exhaust and found that it was incredibly effective at blowing leaves and debris out of the gutter, especially with the restrictive nozzle that comes in the kit. It was a little clumsy to use, and it might not be suitable for use on a ladder (not with a powerful vacuum, at least), but it was very easy to set up.” –  Tom Scalisi, Bob Vila Product Tester & Writer

The AgiiMan gutter-cleaning kit comes with everything necessary to achieve clean gutters (other than the pressure washer). This kit includes several extension rods and tips, each equipped with leakproof O-rings. It fits quarter-inch quick-connect pressure washers and can handle up to 4,000 psi. The high-pressure nozzles are effective at removing stubborn debris. It can extend over 100 inches, so you can reach 1- and even some 1.5-story gutters easily.

What our tester says: “I found the AgiiMan gutter cleaning tool kit to be one of the most effective gutter cleaning kits in this test. It came with several wands and four nozzles, and it snapped to my pressure washer without an issue. It was easy to manipulate into the gutter and had plenty of power.” –  Tom Scalisi, Bob Vila Product Tester & Writer

Add attic insulation to stop the transfer of heat through the roof, which reduces the risk of ice dam formation. Install this blanket-style attic insulation from Owens Corning in an uninsulated attic or add it as a second layer to increase the R-value potential of your home. It features a Kraft paper barrier to help prevent moisture issues and is GreenGuard-certified for low chemical emissions into indoor air. Each package includes eight pieces of fiberglass attic insulation, and each piece measures 48 inches by 16 inches.

Use underlayment before installing the final roof system and as a secondary layer in areas susceptible to windblown rain and ice damming. The TAMKO Moisture Guard is a self-adhering underlayment designed for around roof edges, valleys, dormers, and skylights where ice dams and wind-driven rain are most likely to intrude. “This product is important, as it creates a waterproof secondary barrier under the roof covering, helping to protect vulnerable points from freeze-thaw cycles and moisture migration before the primary shingles take on snow, ice, and wind,” explains Abernathy.

Install snow guards on roofs to prevent large sheets of snow and ice from sliding off all at once. SNOWGUARD’s products keep snow and ice in place to protect your gutters from being ripped off your house. These snow guards are made from 100 percent virgin industrial-grade polycarbonate for maximum strength and long-lasting performance. Each snow guard includes a Perfect Seal Gasket and three screws, creating a watertight installation without the need for silicone. The kit includes 50 mini snow guards, 50 gaskets, and 150 screws with neoprene washers for secure mounting.

De-icing cable, also called heat cables or heat tape, help prevent ice dams from forming by releasing heat through insulated electric wires. They are installed on parts of a roof that are most vulnerable. Frost King’s roof cable kit can easily be fastened into position over the eaves, within gutters, or directly on top of the shingles via clips. It is designed to resist exposure to sunlight, moisture, and impact.

This tool lets you remove snow from a roof while keeping your feet planted safely on the ground. The True Temper is built with a push-button telescoping design so its pole can extend up to 17 feet so you can change the shaft’s length to match the required distance and pitch. Then it quickly collapses to 7 feet for compact storage. This aluminum tool weighs just 4.88 pounds, so it can be easily lifted and maneuvered overhead. The comfortable nonslip handle also makes it easy to use.

What our tester says: “Adjusting the telescoping handle is especially easy, and I found it very easy to manipulate. If you’ll be raking multiple roofs and will need to change lengths quickly, this is a great roof rake. Although it’s a few feet shorter than some rakes, I was able to reach every spot needed on my roof.”

 

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