Inspect Before the First Snow
Walk the ground line in fall and look for missing or curled shingles, exposed nail heads, and loose step flashing at chimneys and walls. Attic stains or daylight through the roof deck signal issues that worsen once ice and snow arrive.
Schedule professional inspection if your roof is past 20 years, if you saw ice dams last winter, or if prior repairs were patchwork rather than systematic.
Ventilation and Insulation Matter
Ice dams start with heat escaping into the attic. Balanced soffit and ridge ventilation plus adequate insulation reduce melt-freeze cycles at the eave. Fall is the right time to address blocked soffit vents or compressed insulation before roofing crews are booked solid.
Gutters and Roof Edge Details
Clean gutters and downspouts after leaf fall so melting snow has a clear path off the roof. Confirm drip edge, ice and water shield (where present), and fascia condition at the eave — these details protect sheathing when dams do form.
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