In the midst of winter and below freezing temperatures, you may be wondering what snow and ice can do to your roof.
We often see the effects of snow and ice on our daily lives: slippery pavements, treacherous driving conditions, and a lot of de-icing of windscreens. Many people, however, are unaware of or underestimate the danger of snow and ice on the roofs of their homes. We will examine how snow and ice affect our roofs in this article.
Snow dams
A snow dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow (water) from draining off the roof. As this happens, the water will then gradually leak into the house, which can then cause structural damage, as well as damage to electric equipment and furniture.
Salting your roof in advance can help prevent snow dams from building up. Obviously, you will only be able to do this if you have a warning, so make sure to check your weather forecast so you can prepare in advance.
Ice dams
Ice dams are formed at the eaves of sloped roofs of heated buildings as a result of melting snow under a snow pack reaching the eaves and freezing there. It is possible for ice dams to cause a lot of damage, such as roof leaks, mouldy insulation and sagging drywall.
You should make sure your roof insulation is up to scratch in order to prevent snow and ice dams – this will prevent heat from melting the snow on your roof. Better insulation also helps keeps energy bills down by keeping your home warm and reducing the need to turn up the thermostat.
Snow Removal
As we have already mentioned, it is advisable to pay close attention to your roof during the winter months. Of course, you can attempt to clear your roof yourself. It is not uncommon, however, for people to puncture shingles of the roof’s waterproof membrane. Eventually, the damage is bound to happen as they scrape hard to remove ice build-up. Clearing snow like this from roofs may actually cause more damage to the roof than the snow will.
To help prevent damage from the cold weather conditions when you know they are coming up. Get a professional to check over your roof, they can spot any small issues, and help repair your roof. This will prevent the snow causing any bigger issues with your roof.
To round up, always take proper care and maintenance of your roof before and during the winter. That way, snow and ice impact on your roof will be minimal. If you take proper care of your roof, then it will last for years to come.
If you have any issues with your existing roof, or require advice on any new roofs, then please contact us at Regan Roofing, and we can assist you.