Resources · Seasonal guide
A Wyoming & Colorado Roof Calendar
Front Range and Sheridan-area weather asks different things of a roof depending on the season. Here’s what’s worth watching for, and when.
Spring: checking what winter left behind
Freeze-thaw cycles are hard on a roof — ice that forms and melts repeatedly along eaves and valleys can work under shingles or back up under flashing before it’s obvious from the ground. Spring is the season to look for ice-dam-related staining in the attic, flashing that’s shifted over winter, and granule buildup in the gutters that signals shingle wear accelerated by the freeze-thaw cycle. It’s also worth a look after any winter storm heavy enough to have loaded the roof with snow.
Summer: storm season
Hail and high-wind storms are most common through the summer months in this region. Before storm season, gutters clear and draining properly matter more than usual — a clogged gutter during a heavy summer downpour backs water up under the roof edge. After any storm with hail or high wind, a documented inspection is worth doing even if nothing looks obviously wrong from the ground; hail bruising and wind-lifted shingle tabs aren’t always visible from a driveway.
Fall: getting ready for snow load
Fall is the window to deal with anything found over the summer before snow makes the roof harder to inspect and work on safely. Clearing debris — leaves and branches that accumulate in valleys and behind chimneys — before the first snowfall prevents that debris from holding moisture against the roof all winter. It’s also a reasonable time to confirm attic ventilation is working, since poor ventilation is one of the bigger contributors to ice-dam formation once winter arrives.
Winter: watch, don’t climb
Heavy snow load and ice dams are the two things to watch for through winter — interior signs like water stains near exterior walls or ceilings are usually the first indication of an ice dam backing water up under the shingles. This is not a season to get on the roof yourself; snow and ice make a roof surface genuinely dangerous, and it’s exactly the kind of inspection we do for a reason. If you’re seeing signs of a problem, call rather than climb.
Want a copy of what to check yourself before calling? Use our roof inspection checklist →