Featured Image Caption: Common Types of Wintertime Roof Damage
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Winter is harsh on homes and particularly on roofs. Snow, heavy winds, ice, and sleet all take their toll on a roof. Looking out for and repairing roof damage when it begins may prevent costly repairs in the future. It can also keep you and your family safer. You can protect your home this winter by keeping out an eye for these common types of wintertime roof damage.
Shingle and Gutter Damage
Icicles hanging off of the roof are an iconic symbol of winter. However, as pretty as they are, they can be very damaging to gutters and shingles. More importantly, too many icicles is a sign of ice dams. When water melts off of the roof, the water collects along the edges of the roof and freezes. These masses of freezing water are known as ice dams. If they aren’t taken care of properly, the ice dams will cause melting water to seep under the shingles and damage them. This can cause leaks and water damage within your home, and if you aren’t careful, you might not notice it until it’s too late.
Attic Condensation
If water gets into your home through the roof and the issue isn’t taken care of immediately, it can cause condensation to build up on the ceiling of the attic. This condensation may lead to rotting wood, mold, and mildew. These can cause damage to the attic and roof as well as health problems for your family. Though very few people spend much time in the attic, it’s a good idea to check the attic every once in a while for condensation and humidity.
Roof Collapse
Snow looks light and fluffy, but it is heavy, and when too much accumulates on top of a roof, the roof may not be able to bear the weight of it. This can cause the roof to collapse and necessitate major roof repair. Wetter snow is heavier than dry snow, which makes it more likely to cause roof collapse. However, collapse can happen even in light snow conditions, depending on the condition of your roof. Removing snow before it accumulates and continually checking for roof damage can help prevent roof collapse from occurring.
Missing Shingles
Strong winds can easily blow loose shingles from the roof, especially if they’re already damaged. When this wind is combined with rain or sleet, many shingles can blow away. This leaves your roof unprotected, which could result in leaks over time.
Cracks and Leaks
Missing shingles, cracks around rooftop openings, and loose or damaged flashing all allow the rain and melting snow to seep into small cracks in the roof of your home. When the weather freezes, this water makes the cracks expand. Over time, the cracks may continue to grow. Eventually, enough water may seep in to cause significant leaks, mold, and water damage in the wood and ceiling of the home.
Don’t let winter weather damage your home. Keep up with maintenance and repairs by looking out for these things that can happen to your roof in the winter. Doing so can save you thousands of dollars over time.
By Anita Ginsburg
who is a freelance writer and residing in Denver, CO. She studied at Colorado State University, and now writes articles about health, business, family and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family whenever she isn’t writing. If you notice signs of roof damage, she recommends getting roof repairs done as soon as possible.
Member since July, 2019
View all the articles of Anita Ginsburg.
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