Snow and ice are beautiful in their own way. Staring out the window at the winterscape in your neighbourhood, you can find yourself lost in the beauty that surrounds you. Imagine the way trees look after an ice storm. Tree branches coated in ice look like glass. While the cold winter weather can be beautiful and awe-inspiring, it can also be dangerous and damaging to your home. This is especially true regarding your roof.
Ice Damming
One of the most damaging effects cold weather has on your roof is ice damming. Ice damming is caused by the melting of snow and ice due to heat from the sun and heat escaping your attic. Once the snow or ice melts, the water runs down your roof but refreezes at the edge. This process causes ice dams and icicles to form blocking water from escaping. Ice damming is dangerous to your home because the heavy icicles tear the gutters and shingles down when they fall.
Increased Stress
Ice dams and icicles are also dangerous because when large enough they place significant pressure on the roof of your home. This pressure can damage the roof of your home and shorten its useful life. If the stress becomes too much, it will cause door frames and windows to crack. The stress could also cause your roof to bow or collapse.
Wind Damage
While wind damage can occur at any point during the year, those harsh, winter winds are much more damaging. During the winter, many homes incur significant wind damage to their roofs. The most prominent effect of wind damage is damaged or removed shingles. Missing and broken shingles significantly reduce the roof’s efficiency. Once shingles have been broken or pulled off, the likelihood of your roof leaking increases, and the ability of your roof to keep heat in decreases.
Leaking
Many homeowners notice their roofs leaking in early spring. This is because that ice that became a permanent resident on your rooftop finally melted. Once the ice melted, the damage to the roof was no longer hidden. Homeowners often notice damaged gutters, downspouts, shingles, and leaks.
Condensation
Condensation is yet another effect cold weather has on your roof. During the winter, condensation will begin to build on the roof of your attic. As we increase the temperature in our home, the warm air continues to escape into the attic. Once there, it moves towards the ceiling and pushes its way out. During the winter, the snow and ice that cover the rooftop act as a wall. The warm air starts to melt the snow and ice, which creates moisture on the ceiling. This moisture could cause mould, mildew, wood rot, and more.
Prepare for Cold Weather
As temperatures start to drop early in the fall, consider getting in touch with our roof repair experts to be sure your roof is ready for another harsh winter. Contact our roofing team to learn more or to obtain a no-obligation free estimate today.
