4 Winter Roofing Damages To Watch Out For

Winter is often a nightmare for home maintenance, as the roofs acquire the most wear during the season, and are also the most difficult to fix during this time as well. This horrible combo can often result in costly damages that can seriously affect the livelihood of those who live inside as well as the home’s value. Here are some of the most common winter roofing problems, and how to prevent them.

Trapped Water

Trapped water in your roof is a year-long issue, however during the winter it is particularly troublesome due to the trapped water freezing and expanding, which can push against the shingles and cause cracks. When left unchecked, this freezing and thawing process continues for multiple cycles throughout the season, compounding the damage each time. This will eventually lead to leakage underneath the shingle, with the shingle needing to be replaced.

To prevent this, ensure that your roof is properly ventilated. If any minor holes or leaks exist, fix them immediately to prevent water entering those points.

Icicles

Icicles may be pretty during the winter, but they are especially trouble. In addition to being an injury over your head just waiting to happen, icicles are bad for the health of your roof. The weight of the icicles can eventually be too much for your roof, pulling down gutters, fascia, and other portions of the roof. The stress that the icicles put on the roof can also result in rotting, which is an issue that will only spread if not dealt with immediately.

The most obvious solution to getting rid of icicles is to knock them down, but this comes with serious risk towards yourself and your home. Instead, prevent them from ever happening to begin with by keeping your gutters clean and applying heat tape along the seams to prevent ice formation.

Strong Winds

Strong winds are often a staple that goes hand in hand with winter, and can damage your roof in multiple ways, either by loosening or blowing off your roof shingles, or by knocking down nearby tree limbs. These limbs may already be weighed down by snow and ice, making them more likely to succumb to the wind.

Be sure to replace all shingles that are blown away immediately, as every day that your roof goes exposed is a risk to your home. Also, it is best to keep trees that extend over your home away from your roof. If that is not possible, trim those branches and keep them clear of snow and ice to minimize chances of them falling over.

Ice Dams

Ice dams are a major nuisance among homeowners during the winter. They form when runoff water freeze at the edge of the home and preventing snow and water from falling off, resulting in a backlash of water that seeps under the shingles. This results in leaks that can cause serious damage to the insulation and interior of your home.

To prevent ice dams from happening, one method is to blow cold air against the roof from inside the house, preventing snow and ice from entering.

Overall, roof damage can be an incredibly frustrating thing, especially during the winter time, but with the right preventative measures and immediate action, the consequences can be minimized. If you are in need to clear some ice or implement some of these preventative measures, contact us via phone (732-589-7769) or through our online inquiry form. We’d love to work with you!