3 Effects of Snow and Ice on Your Roof

The roof of your home helps to ensure its structural integrity. When your shingles need maintenance, it’s critical not to leave them in bad shape, especially when winter weather is approaching. After the winter season, pay attention to the signs that snow and ice have wreaked havoc on your home. What effect do these elements have on a roof?

1. Damage to Gutters

During the colder seasons, icicles can form on your home. When melted snow is constantly freezing and thawing, the precipitation needs somewhere to go. Commonly, it becomes trapped in your gutters, where it eventually refreezes. As this process continues throughout the winter, your gutters will become clogged with heavy “ice dams”.

Additional snow that melts may seep under your roof shingles and refreeze, causing further problems. In most cases, you will need professional help to remove these “ice dams”. Damaged gutters that are pulling away from the house can also put stress on the roof.

2. DIY Snow Removal

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), attempting to remove snow from the roof on your own can actually cause more damage. Not only could you hurt yourself in the process, but the structure of the roof could be compromised. If you do not know how to properly use a snow rake, you and your roof will be better off getting a professional involved in the snow removal process.

As a homeowner, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety recommends you know the weight your roof can support to help prevent a collapse.

3. Stressed Roof

Your roof could be buckling from excess weight after a storm, but it may be hard to tell depending on the amount of snow accumulated. Instead, look for signs of stress inside the home. You may notice that tiles are pulling away from the ceiling or experience a roof leak. It is recommended you contact a structural engineer to conduct an assessment.

In the meantime, your family should not stay in a home that is at risk for a roof collapse. New England tends to see heavier snow than the western regions of the country, so we are more likely to see serious roof damage.

Roof damage should be addressed at the first sign to avoid potentially catastrophic damage and high repair costs. Before winter weather settles in New England this year, make sure your roof can handle the effects of excess weight and frozen precipitation. Schedule a roof assessment with the team at Steve Czerwinski Inc. today!