Winter is one of the toughest periods for your roof. With freezing temperatures and heavy rain/snow, it’s certainly not a great time to be experiencing damage or leaks. To help prevent costly damage, check these simple winter roof care tips, most of which you can do quickly yourself.
1. Look out for ice dams
Ice dams can wreak havoc on the structure of your roof, and interior. Over time snow can melt and refreeze when the temperature drops at night. This cycle can repeat several times until you have a build-up, where a dam like ice block holds the snow in place, making the problem worse.
When this water starts seeping through your shingles that’s when the problem starts.
Don’t assume ventilation and insulation will stop the problem!
While a lot of advice would lead us to believe that properly insulating our home is the key to preventing the heat from escaping and therefore melting the snow, this isn’t always enough.
Many homes have heating ducts which run through the attic, contributing to the melting. And even with insulation, since heat rises, your attic may still hold some heat.
Note – Ice dams can form with or without gutters. For more information on ice dams, check out our article, Ice Dams 101.
2. Too much snow? Consider removal
Most roofs can cope pretty well with normal levels of snowfall, without the need for any action. When heavy snowfall occurs (which is not uncommon here in the northeast), it can pose a risk.
Depending on the age and condition of your roof, the weight of heavy snowfall can and does cause structural damage. If your roof isn’t too high from the ground (single story or low roof) you may be able to remove some, or all the snow with an extendable roof rake. Never take unnecessary risks, if you can’t easily remove the snow from the ground or with a ladder, do not attempt to scale the roof yourself, consider hiring a professional. Also, consider removing icicles from your roof.
Note – If you are unable to remove all of the snow from your roof, you could still be at risk of an ice dam. If you cannot push it off yourself, it may be best to hire a professional.
3. Watch out for wind damage
Wind can be as much a powerful force, if not greater than snow and ice. After heavy winds, it is good to inspect your roof from the ground, looking for any missing or damaged shingles and roof materials. If left untreated these small vulnerabilities can quickly lead to even greater problems, especially if snow, ice and water is allowed to enter your home through gaps in the roof!
You’re specifically looking for missing, broken, or damaged shingles or other roofing materials.
4. Repair damaged flashing
Loose and warped flashing is an easy entry point for melting snow and ice. Before you know it you could be looking at an internal leak. Flashing is affected by constant changes in temperature, shifting shingles and debris caused by high winds. These can all cause the flashing to shift out of shape or become damaged.
Pre-winter checks
- Visually inspect your roof for signs of damage/missing shingles – A professional roof contractor can give you complete peace of mind.
- Check the condition of and clear your gutters
- Check your attic has sufficient airflow – Good ventilation is one of the key factors in protecting against winter roof damage.
If you would like more information on roof problems that could happen in the winter, take a look at our article, Common Winter Roofing Problems.
Every situation is different. this is meant only as a guide to help inform you of general roofing situations and maintenance. this is not a complete and exhaustive list or statement of every possible scenario and problem that could arise. we will not be held liable for any damage or injury sustained directly or indirectly from the information provided in this article/post.
About JPW Building, LLC
Also known as Guaranteed Roofing, we are a full-service roofing contractor servicing Connecticut and Rhode Island with specializations in roof repair for asphalt roofing, metal roofing, and commercial roofing. Installing multiple roofs every week, Guaranteed Roofing Guarantees all workmanship, materials, and satisfaction for every job. We specialize in roof replacement for leaking roof. We are an affordable roofing contractor who keeps roof repair cost low. For roofers near me, look no further than Guaranteed Roofing. Guaranteed Roofing’s installers are certified roofing contractors for Owens Corning, Certainteed, Tamko and GAF roofing products. These certifications allow us to offer a higher level of warranty coverage on these products and they indicate that we are fully licensed in Connecticut and Rhode Island as a proven roofing installer committed to continuing our education and services and have the highest standards of excellence, quality, and knowledge in the roofing industry. If you would like to schedule an estimate with The Reader’s Choice Award Winner for best Roofer in Windham County and one of the best roofing companies, please click here.
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