Winter Hates Your Roof
Winter is here and with it comes cold howling winds, snow, and ice. These are all enemies of your roof. Between them, they can cause a host of problems that make winter a nightmare. At this point, it may be too late for you to do preventative maintenance, but if you know what to look for, you can stop major problems from developing.
1. Strong Winds
Utah is no stranger to winter wind storms. We spent a lot of time cleaning up after the windstorm of December 2011. Strong winds can loosen asphalt shingles or blow them off roofs. Loss of shingle coverage can allow water to flow into your home. If you find shingles in your yard after a storm or notice missing shingles on your roof, you should call Vertex Roofing Contractors immediately. We will replace the missing shingles so that your roof will continue to protect your home.
2. Flashing Damage
Flashing are the metal strips that protect the corners and peaks of a roof. They are also placed on the front edge of a roof and around skylights and chimneys. Winter storms can damage flashing causing it to peel away from your roof. If this happens, water leaks are sure to follow. After a storm, take a few moments to check your flashing for damage.
3. Ice Dams
As winter progresses, snow and ice mounts up on your roof. During the day, as temperatures rise, melting occurs. In a perfect scenario, melt water flows off your roof or is evacuated by gutters. However, if your gutters are blocked by debris or water has frozen in your downspouts, ice dams can form. This is a serious problem. When water remains on your roof and refreezes, significant damage can occur. Shingles can be pushed off or even worse, damage to your roof deck or underlayment can occur, allowing water to seep into your home. Water dams can also block ventilation spaces in your attic causing condensation to form. If not handled promptly, condensation is an invitation for mold to form.
4. Trees
While tall trees are a beautiful adornment to a yard, if they are close to your home, they can cause considerable damage. Winter winds can cause branches to repeatedly hit roofs, causing damage to shingles and flashing. Strong winds can break weakened limbs off a tree. Should one fall on a roof they can damage to underlayment or roof decking, causing thousands of dollars in repairs. If you have trees that tower over your roof, it is in your best interest to get them trimmed.
5. Icicles
While icicles are beautiful, they can be a danger to people walking underneath. While this problem can be avoided by keeping a safe perimeter, it doesn’t solve the damage they can cause to a roof. Icicles grow through the day/night warming and cooling process. They can become heavy enough that they harm roofs and gutters. They can also cause ice dams to form. The best way to prevent icicles from forming is to keep your gutters clean and allow your downspouts to transfer water unimpeded.
Is Your Roof Safe? Contact Our SLC, UT Roofing Professionals for an Inspection Today
While winter weather in and of itself is dangerous to your roof, it is the ice and snow that covers it that makes detection of winter problems so difficult. Usually, it's too late when they make themselves known. If you are not sure how your roof is handling the weather, call us at Vertex Roofing Contractors. Our Salt Lake City, Utah team of certified roofing professionals will be happy to assess your roof, provide preventative maintenance and provide tips to keep it in optimal condition. Give us a call at 801-639-0477 to request a free bid today.
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