If you live in a colder climate, you know that winter is a season that can wreak havoc on home maintenance. Heavy snowfalls, extremely low temperatures, and lots of ice can be hindrances to upkeep on your house, and unlike summer, it’s also the worst time to have to be outside and deal with any mishaps that arrive. Roof maintenance in the winter months is never fun, but here are a few tips that will make the job easier.
Pre-Winter Preparation
There are a few things you can do before winter hits that will make roof repairs during the cold a bit easier. First of all, it’s a wise move to look at your roof flashing before the first snow of the season. Flashing, even when done right the first time, is easily manipulated by changing temperatures and moisture levels. If it is even slightly warped or loose, snow, ice, and freezing rain can leak into your roof, which in turn can lead to a leak in your house.
While you’re up there, make sure to check out your shingles as well. Again, any issues, no matter how small they may appear, can allow moisture into the roof and into your house. Taking the time to repair these problems will make your winter maintenance a whole lot easier.
Inspect the Gutters
While icicles hanging off the gutters, glinting in the sun after a big freeze may look romantic, it’s actually a sign of a larger problem. If you have icicles, chances are you have ice build-up inside the gutters as well. Ice dams can prevent any snowmelt from fully leaving your home via the gutters, which can put a lot of stress on your roof. And if your gutters are filled with ice entirely, there very well be too much weight for them to handle. If this happens, the gutters may droop and sag, eventually tearing away from your home and leaving you with a massive repair bill.
Get Rid of Snow
After a big snowstorm, your roof is going to be covered with a thick layer of snow. While this may lend your home an air of Christmassy charm, it’s actually really bad for the structural integrity of the roof.
Falling snow can be very deceptive: it floats down, almost as light as air, dainty and delightful. In reality, however, snow is heavy. Really heavy. If you’ve taken precautions and made repairs, this shouldn’t be a major issue, but even a tiny bit of damage on the roof can absolutely ruin your roof.
When snow melts during the day, from being at the top of the house directly under the sun, it turns into liquid that leaks to the bottom of the rooftop snowdrift. At night, when temperatures drop again, the water may refreeze. Upon refreezing, it expands as it turns into ice, meaning that if it has gotten in between any shingles, those shingles are now pushed apart, letting in more liquid the next day.
It is absolutely imperative that you remove snow and ice immediately. It’s not the most exciting job, but future you will thank you when you don’t have to invest in a whole new roof in the spring.
US Roofing
Roof maintenance isn’t feasible for many people. Time, health, know-how – all of these may keep you from being able to do the job yourself. If this is the case for you, or even if you simply want the job done absolutely right the first time, US Roofing can help you out and make sure your home will be able to withstand the ice and snow that come with winter.
