Winters can become quite burdensome to get through, thanks to the snow that brings an onslaught of
cleaning chores with it. From shoveling snow off your driveway to cleaning the snowmelt in your lounge that’s seeped through the ceiling, there are quite a lot of troublesome tasks that the chilly season decrees. However, out of all the forced winter maintenance tasks, one that gets neglected, more often than not, is roof upkeep.
Since homeowners don’t notice the roof frequently, they tend to forget about the damage snow might be causing it during the winter. As a result, many roofs are pushed beyond their limit, leading to severe damage that warrants expensive repairs. However, if homeowners remain proactive and take necessary measures to protect their roof, they can significantly reduce the degree of damage to it due to the snow.
With that said, taking precautionary measures is only possible if a person is aware of the troubles they are going up against. Considering this, we decided to put together all the winter roof troubles so that you know what you need to do to skirt around them effectively. Here are the most common winter roof banes every homeowner faces.
Snowmelt
The snow that settles over a roof slowly melts and starts leaking through the roofing, damaging it severely. When the snow gets trapped on a roof, it melts and infiltrates the surface, entering the home and creating a breeding ground for mold and mildew. So make sure you make necessary provisions to avoid roof accumulation over your roof, or remove it manually often to save yourself from the havoc wreaked by snowmelt.
Winter winds
The winter season generates the most brutal gusts of wind that can severely damage the shingles over a roof. Shingles, no matter how sturdy, can rip away due to strong gales, leaving crates in a roof. To keep your shingles in place, inspect their state before the chilly season rolls around, and if they feel loose, replace them to improve their chances of weathering the aggressive winter winds.
Snow load over the roof
Although snow loads are not too common, they can occur in areas that receive excessive snowfall and frequent blizzards. When the harsh winter offerings lead to thick layers of snow over a roof, it can lose its structural integrity and bend. And in some cases, it may even collapse. To save your roofing from incurring damage due to snow load, be sure to remove accumulated snow regularly from your roof.
Ice dams
Ice dams are a winter phenomenon that causes the trapped ice over a roof to melt and clog the gutters. Clogged gutters mean the snow will not have an outlet to drain and end up leaking into the house through the ceiling. The best approach to avoiding ice dams, clean your gutters on a regular basis.
Don’t let the winter sneak up on you, prepare for it ahead of time, and save yourself from the unnecessary hassle of repairing a damaged roof.
