The Winter Weather and Your Roof

With heavy snow during the Buffalo winter, your roof suffers from constant wear-and-tear. When snow collects, it weighs down your roof and can cause it to fail. Wind drifts create an imbalance of snow load. Roofs and downspouts freeze, preventing proper draining in your gutters. When your roof is showing any signs of damage, your roofing system is open and primed for insect or vermin invasion and leaks. Early detection is the key to detecting faults and weaknesses that lead to larger problems down the road, both exterior and interior. 

Here are some common problems you roof may experience in the winter.

Ice Dams

Ice dams are the result of when the upper areas of an icy roof begin to thaw, but the lower are of the roof remains frozen. Melting snow and ice drain down the roof and re-freezes on the gutters creating an ice dam. Water pooling behind the dam is likely to leak into your home through cracks and joint in the roofing material. Ice dams cannot be prevented but, with proper insulation and a good ventilation system, they can be minimized. Contact us at Titan’s Remodeling Inc to discuss your options for preventing ice dams. 

Condensation

Condensation occurs when warm air meets a cold surface. In your home, condensation can occur in attics that are not properly insulated, causing mold and mildew. Make sure your attic is properly ventilated as not enough ventilation can cause condensation resulting in damage to your roof and decking and the encouragement of ice dams.

Strong winds

When wind speeds pick up enough they can start to loosen up shake and asphalt shingles.Don’t get caught with leaky flashing, cracks in shingles, eaves, or caulking, or broken shingles when rain and snow come. Get your roof inspected by the professionals at Titan’s Remodeling Inc to ensure that your roofing system is in good, working condition.

Tree Limbs

Having a lot of trees in your yard can create a beautiful scene, but there are also some things to watch out for. Sometimes overhanging tree limbs can scrape the surface of your roof and damage its protective top layer. Keep branches from falling on your roof by trimming any that are within 6 feet of your roof. This also discourages tree-dwelling animals from making their homes on your roof as well. 

Icicles

Icicles are formed by sunny days and sub-freezing temperatures. As the sun melts the water on your roof, it slides down the surface and refreezes in the cold air. After a few water droplets have refrozen, an icicle forms. Although they are beautiful, icicles, if they fall, can be dangerous to you and your pets. If your gutters are clogged, this can encourage icicles for form. The weight of the icicles can cause damage to not only your gutter but your roof as well. To prevent this, keep your gutters clean and attend to your gutters as soon as the weather starts to warm up. Attending to your gutters as soon as possible prevents leaking and other problems during spring rains.

Accumulated Snow

The heavyweight of accumulated snow can cause structural damage to your roof.  Roof leaks are more likely to show up in the building interior when the weather begins to warm up and the accumulated snow begins to absorb rainfall and melt itself.  The accumulated snow slows the mechanical drainage of water off of the roof surface, giving water more time to find its way into the structure through even the smallest defect at a hole in a roof valley, a loose section of chimney flashing, or an area of worn shingles.

Snow removal should always be done carefully. Clearing snow yourself can be dangerous for both you and your roof. Damage to the roof surface can create more problems than the snow itself. When in doubt, choose the professionals at Titan’s Remodeling Inc for all of your snow removal needs!