Frigid temperatures and heavy amounts of winter snow. The inclement weather will most certainly inflict damage on your roof it you don’t take the necessary precautions to prepare it for the winter chill as well as clean it up during the harsh winter months. If you are interested in the prevention principles involved with roofing homes, check out these tips to keep your roof in tiptop shape before and during the winter frost.
Roofing Homes – When we think of that term we often cringe due to the low temperatures and the damage the cold can do to our precious homes. Unfortunately, you cannot change the weather but you can prevent it from damaging your roof.
If you are reading this in the summer, you may want to start thinking about your roof right now. In weather conditions that offer cold temperatures and snow for most of the year, a special shield (snow guards) may be required to protect your roof from deterioration. Snow guards are installed to prevent the runoff of snow onto people standing below the roof. The guards are best installed in the summer because the time to set the adhering material only takes 24 hours as opposed to 2-3 weeks in the winter. If you do not experience ample amounts of snowfall, snow guards may cause a reverse effect and pile the snow too high, causing roof leaks. Speak to a qualified professional who is skilled in roofing Grand Rapids homes to discuss your exact needs.
Snow Removal
The winters can be brutal for people concerned with the problems of roofing homes. Snow removal is an essential step to proper roof maintenance and without it your roof is in danger of leaking or even collapse.
To remove excess snow from your roof, use a roof rake. Never use a standard snow shovel. It is dangerous and too heavy. A roof rake can be handled from the ground and often looks like a long garden tool with a 16 foot handle. A roof rake can also come in handy for other matters concerning roofing homes.
Your main goal with snow removal is to remove as much snow as you can while leaving a small amount. Don’t try to get every last bit by scraping your gutters and shingles or you might damage those elements as well. Take notice of the weight distribution while removing the snow. If you start on one side and then progress to the next, halfway through you will be left with uneven snow distribution. Remove the snow from both sides to keep the amounts consistent during the entire process.
In continuing with our snow proofing information when roofing homes, it’s also important to assess the wetness of the snow and the possibility of ice formation. Ice dams often form due to a continuous process of freezing snowfall and intermittent melting. The water from the melted snow can travel to the frozen soffit and freeze instantly once it reaches it, creating an ice dam. When ice dams form, water is redirected into the attic which can damage ceilings, walls and gutters. The water can also get under the shingles and further damage the roofing materials. To prevent ice dams, keep the attic cold to prevent melting snow. You can also install high heel trusses and cardboard baffles to promote adequate ventilation for your home. Contact a qualified service professional knowledgeable in the art of roofing homes and consult with him/her about the steps you can take to safeguard your home from snow and ice during the cold winter months.
Need Help?
If you choose to seek the expertise of a professional roofer for matters involving roofing homes-or roofing homes in any surrounding neighborhood-please contact Mr. Roof at 1-800-4-MR-ROOF.
In regards to roofing and its surrounding areas, Mr. Roof’s roofing contractors are skilled with snow load, melting, re-freezing, gutter back ups, and ice dams, and more.
