How Winter Can Damage Your Roof
As the literal cover of your home, it is imperative that your roof is properly cared for this winter. The roof protects you from all the outside elements getting in, and when it is damaged, it can no longer do its job. Winter typically brings the harshest weather that your roof will have to endure all year long, as this season brings rain, snow, ice, and sometimes even hail.
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To avoid large amounts of damage to your roof, it’s important to understand how winter conditions can damage your roof. Proper knowledge of roof care can ensure that your roof will last for years to come.
Accumulated Snow
Not all roofs are designed to be able to carry the same amount of weight. As snow and ice accumulate on a roof, the weight can grow too heavy for the roof to handle. The more that accumulates, the higher the risk is of your roof caving in. However, even light snow can be enough to exert enough pressure to cause damage, especially if the roof is very old or poorly constructed. Be sure that you are cleaning your roof often to avoid too much snow collecting. Remove any snow from the edges using a long-handled roof rake.
Melting Snow
It is common for the weather to fluctuate in the winter. Unfortunately, this means that water can freeze or snow can melt too quickly. A thaw can cause accumulated snow to melt and seep through the cracks on the roof, or stay on the roof and freeze again to become ice. Moreover, when the snow melts quickly and freezes again in the gutters or eaves, ice dams will form. These act as a barrier against proper drainage, which can lead to strain on the eaves and even gutter collapse.
What’s worse is the weather fluctuating quickly can actually cause strain on the roof itself, as the materials quickly expand and contract repeatedly according to the temperature. While most roofs are designed to withstand these cycles, severe temperature changes such as a snowstorm may exceed their design parameters and greatly shorten the roofing lifespan.
Falling Objects
Branches are large contributors to the damage to roofs. It’s important to pay close attention to those that are close to the roof, as they cause the most damage. Any dead or large branches can break off and fall, causing severe damage when landing, breaking shingles, cracking roof beams, or even falling through completely. Even if branches don’t break off trees, they can still cause damage if they are too close to the house. Branches that are moving in the wind can catch under shingles, tearing them away from the roof.
Professional Help
While climbing up on the roof to fix your issues may seem like the best solution, it can be dangerous work and is best left to professionals. Before the winter can damage your roof, give experts a call at Challis to ensure that your roof is winter ready.