A lot of homeowners mistakenly believe that once the summer storms have departed that they really do not need to worry about winter roof damage. The fact is that winter can be a treacherous time for your roof.
https://chestercountytnhomes.com/Winter roof damage can result in a call for emergency roof repair. It can happen seemingly suddenly. Understanding the potential threat to your roof that can result in winter roof damage will help to keep you alert to the threats.
How Much Weight Can Your Roof Hold?
How much weight can your roof hold is a question most every homeowner cannot answer, unless, they recently had a new roof installed. Roofing material is manufactured under different weight specifications.
Snow and ice can be heavy, and if your roof is not structured to manage the weight, you could be in for a really bad experience. One cubic foot of snow can range in weight from around seven to twenty pounds depending on the density of the snow and the water content.
A cubic foot of ice can weigh in excess of 57 pounds. Of course, the next question is how much weight can the average roof handle. The answer is it varies. It depends on the type of roofing materials that were used in the construction of the roof, shingle roofing installation, and the age of the roof.
The average residential roofing materials are designed to hold about 20 pounds of weight per cubic foot. Of course, the older the roof the less likely it has a higher weight rating. Additionally, the older the roof the more wear and tear it has been under and the less structurally sound it is likely to be.
Ice and snow are both risk factors to your roof and can result in winter roof damage. While roof collapse from snow and ice build-up is on the extreme end of the spectrum, there is plenty of other winter roof damage that snow and ice can cause.
if you had to choose the biggest culprit when it comes to winter roof damage, hands down it would be ice. Learn more about what ice can do to your roof in the winter.
Ice and
Roof LeaksIce is nothing more than frozen water. Of course, it is a lot more destructive than water, but nonetheless, ice is just water. There are certain indisputable facts about ice. It expands, and it will eventually melt.
This is how roof damage plays out because of ice. The ice expands between shingles or between your gutters. As the ice expands it slowly pulls away the roofing material that is protecting your home. As the ice melts it contracts, unfortunately, the roofing material that was pulled away from the structure is not in place to protect your home. The water begins to run off from the ice melting and seeps under the roofing material and causes a leak.
Ice dams are another downfall of the winter weather. An ice dam forms and starts to melt. The water runoff will run down the roof until it reaches the colder edge of the roof where new ice forms. As the ice forms, it moves in an upward motion getting thicker and thicker with time, trapping water underneath. The water that is trapped under the dam seeps under the shingles and causes a leak. You wind up with a mess.
Icicles are lovely to look at as they hang off your eaves and gutters, but the weight of that ice can easily pull gutters away from the building and cause other problems. Of course, there is also the risk that ice will clog the gutters and downspouts if there is debris left in the gutters,and cause runoff. Professional gutter services can help you to prepare for winter and prevent clogs.
You are not out of the woods even if you do not get a lot of ice and snow in the winter time. There are other risks in the winter that can cause winter roof damage.
No Snow? You Still Get Storms
In some regions of the country, snow is not an issue in the winter, but that does not mean there is no threat to your roofing. High winds, downpours, even too much sun is a threat to your roof in the winter.
According to the experts it is not just the colder climate that has winter roof damage worries. Even in the mildest regions, there are days when the heat has to be turned on, as soon as the heat goes on, you are at risk for attic condensation. Attic condensation can damage your roof and your ceiling.
There is no doubt that there are year-round risks to your roof no matter where you live. Don’t be lulled into thinking that your roof is safe at any time of year. How can you better the odds that you will not find yourself in need of emergency roof repair? Follow a few simple steps and you will be able to keep your roof in top-notch condition.
