Upper Valley Winter Roofing Guide 2025 to 2026 NH VT

Local winters are beautiful and tough. This guide explains how to prepare your roof for freeze thaw cycles, heavy snow, and ice in the Upper Valley. You will find practical checklists, clear definitions, and when to handle a task yourself versus calling a pro in Lebanon, Hanover, White River Junction, Hartford, and nearby towns. When you are ready for help, request a no pressure visit on our contact page. HP Roofing serves the Upper Valley, offers emergency service, and backs projects with a 20 year workmanship warranty.

‍

Why Winter Planning Matters in NH and VT

Cold roofs face repeated melting and refreezing that can create ice dams, leaks, and slipping hazards near entries. Planning in late summer or early fall gives time to fix risk areas, set up safe snow management, and schedule any larger improvements before storms arrive. Homeowners should also check contractor credentials using the official New Hampshire license lookup and the Vermont contractor registration.

Quick start checklist:

• Walk the home exterior with binoculars. Note missing shingles, loose flashing, sagging gutters, and areas where snow sheds above doors or walkways.
• Indoors, look for ceiling stains, frosty nails in the attic, and musty insulation.
• Photograph issues and list priorities.
• If you spot active leaks or soft decking, schedule preventative maintenance and request an inspection. If you expect a replacement, compare options for roof replacement.

‍

Ice Dam Prevention That Works

Ice dams happen when heat from the home melts rooftop snow, that meltwater refreezes at the colder eaves, and water backs up under shingles. The most reliable fix is a three part approach, air seal, insulate, and ventilate the attic so the roof deck stays uniformly cold. See the Building America guide on ice dam prevention for an evidence based overview, and pair it with the ENERGY STAR overview of attic ventilation.

Do this first:

• Air sealing, stop warm air leaks from the living space into the attic. Focus on can lights, bath fans, chimney chases, and attic hatches. The Building America resource shows typical leakage points and fixes.
• Insulation, bring attic coverage up to modern levels for cold climates, and keep baffles in place to maintain airflow from soffits. ENERGY STAR explains why this works with natural ventilation.
• Balanced ventilation, keep soffit intake and ridge exhaust open and unobstructed. Review ENERGY STAR’s tips on keeping soffits clear and using rafter vents.

Good to know:

• Roof rakes can remove a light layer of snow from the eaves after storms which reduces dam formation.
• De icing cables are a band aid. They can help in tricky spots but do not replace air sealing and insulation.
• If you already have ice dams, avoid chiseling. Call a pro for safe removal and to address the root cause through sealing and ventilation improvements. For help, start with preventative maintenance and repairs or contact us.

Mini project plan:

1. Schedule an attic inspection to identify air leaks, missing baffles, and thin insulation.
2. Seal major leaks, then add insulation as needed.
3. Verify continuous airflow from soffits to ridge, add baffles where insulation might block vents.
4. After fixes, monitor during the first two snowfalls and photograph the eaves. Even snow melt patterns are a good sign. Consult the Building America attic and roof details as a reference checklist.

‍

Attic Ventilation and Insulation Basics

Attic systems work when intake and exhaust are balanced. Soffit vents pull in outside air, ridge vents exhaust warmer attic air. This keeps the roof deck closer to outdoor temperature which reduces melt and ice buildup. Review the homeowner friendly ENERGY STAR guidance on attic ventilation, then apply the Building America sealing and insulation principles for cold zones.

Key steps:

• Keep soffits open. Check that insulation or debris is not blocking intake. Add baffles at every rafter bay that feeds a soffit.
• Use continuous ridge venting when the roof design allows, and avoid mixing multiple exhaust types on the same attic.
• Seal first, then insulate. Air leaks move far more heat into the attic than conduction alone. Apply the Building America sequence, air seal before adding R value.
• During a replacement, upgrade underlayments and flashing, and confirm ventilation details in your scope of work. See options for roof replacement.

When to call a pro:

• You see frost on nails, stained sheathing, or smell mildew in the attic.
• The home has complex rooflines, cathedral ceilings, or vaulted spaces where airflow paths are hard to confirm.
• You are planning skylight work and want proper vent chutes and ice and water protection around openings. For projects that include new daylighting, review our skylight services.

‍

Snow Guards on Metal Roofs

Metal sheds snow quickly which is good for structural loads, but it can release large sheets that endanger people, damage gutters, or block egress. In high traffic areas like entries, over walkways, or above heat pump locations, engineered snow retention systems help keep snow on the roof so it melts in a controlled way. Start with the Metal Construction Association guide to snow retention for selection and design basics.

Homeowner checklist:

• Identify hazard zones, doors, garage aprons, sidewalks, decks, and driveway edges.
• Use engineered systems that match your roof profile. The MCA resource explains the difference between unitized guards and continuous rail systems.
• Avoid stick on or ad hoc devices that lack engineering data.
• Plan layout in rows from eave to upslope rather than a single line at the edge.
• If you need help choosing a system during a re roof or upgrade, compare options during your roof replacement estimate or contact our team.

‍

Gutter and Meltwater Management

Gutters and downspouts control where snowmelt goes. The goal is simple, move water away from the house fast and safely.

What good looks like:

• Clear and continuous gutters sized for local rainfall and snowmelt.
• Downspouts that discharge at least 5 feet from the foundation, or to an approved drywell or storm line if local rules allow. See the EPA’s homeowner guidance on disconnecting or redirecting downspouts and the Building Science Education note on stormwater, gutters, and downspouts.
• Positive grading away from the home so water does not return toward the foundation.
• Leaf protection that can handle snow, not just autumn leaves.

Maintenance checklist:

• Clean gutters and downspouts before the first freeze.
• Confirm downspout extensions, splash blocks, or drain lines keep water well away from the foundation. Building America summarizes best practices in its gutters and downspouts guide.
• Add heat cable only where needed, such as inside a trouble downspout or along a cold eave. Do not rely on heat cable alone to solve ice dams.
• If you need help with any of this, compare options on our gutters and downspouts service page or contact our team.

‍

Permit and Code Checks for Lebanon NH and Hartford VT

Permits depend on scope. Re roofing in kind often needs a permit, structural changes and skylight work usually do. Always check locally before you start.

Lebanon New Hampshire:

• Start with the City’s Building Permits hub.
• For homeowners, see the current Residential Permits page and the detailed Building Permit Guides.
• Lebanon enforces the New Hampshire State Building Code, which is based on 2021 I-Codes. You can read the City’s Building Code overview, then apply online from the City site.
• If you have winter safety questions, Public Works maintains a short page on ice and snow on roofs.

Hartford Vermont:

• Planning and zoning questions begin with the Town’s Planning and Development page.
• Fire Marshal permits and scheduling are on Inspections, Permits, and Forms.
• Vermont requires residential contractors to register. Homeowners can verify status on the Secretary of State’s Residential Contractors page.

When in doubt:

• Ask your city or town for the fastest way to confirm whether your specific scope needs a permit.
• For scoped replacements or upgrades, your estimator will include permit steps in the written proposal. You can start that process on our roof replacement page or from our contact page.

‍

What to Do During A Winter Roofing Emergency

If people are in danger, call 911. In Lebanon the Public Safety Communications Division dispatches police, fire, and EMS. You can learn about their role on the City’s Communications and Dispatch page. For active leaks without immediate danger, take the steps below.

Immediate actions:

• Protect people first. Keep everyone clear of sagging ceilings and electrical hazards.
• Contain water. Place buckets under drips and move valuables.
• Reduce interior load. If water is pooling under drywall, carefully poke a small hole in the lowest point of the bulge to relieve water. Wear eye protection.
• Do not chip exterior ice. This damages shingles and metal.
• Call a pro. For triage and safe removal, reach out to our preventative maintenance and repairs team or contact us.

After the storm:

• Document damage. Take photos of roof surfaces, gutters, ceilings, and affected rooms.
• Plan root cause fixes. Use the ventilation and insulation steps in this guide and consider snow retention in known hazard zones.
• If emergency crews respond, follow local guidance. In Hartford, the Fire Department provides permits and inspection contacts on its Inspections, Permits, and Forms page.
  
  

FAQs

• How do I know if an ice dam is forming if I cannot see the roof?
  Look for water stains near exterior walls, frozen gutters, or icicles growing from soffits. If you see interior leaks, call for repairs.
• Do roof rakes help?
  Yes, when used safely from the ground. Clear the first 3 to 4 feet above the eaves after storms. Do not use a ladder in icy conditions. See the City’s tips for ice and snow on roofs.
• Are heat cables a permanent fix for ice dams?
  No. They can reduce symptoms in tough spots, but the durable fix is air sealing, insulation, and balanced ventilation supported by ENERGY STAR attic ventilation basics.
• Do I need a permit to re roof?
  Often yes. Check Lebanon’s Building Permits or Hartford’s Planning and Development. Your estimator will confirm permit needs.
• Where should downspouts discharge in winter?
  At least 5 feet from the foundation, or to an approved drywell or storm line if allowed. See the EPA’s guide to disconnecting and redirecting downspouts.
• Do metal roofs always need snow guards?
  Not always. Areas above doors, walkways, or driveways often benefit. See the Metal Construction Association’s guide to qualifying snow retention systems, then discuss layout during a roof replacement estimate.
• Can I add insulation without fixing air leaks?
  You can, but results will be limited. Building America explains why sealing first is key in its ice dam prevention guide.‍
• What towns do you serve in the Upper Valley?
  Lebanon, Hanover, White River Junction, Hartford, Sunapee, Grantham, Canaan, and nearby areas. Start on our contact page.