There isn’t much that beats relaxing at home at night watching the snow come down all around the property. At the same time, snow has the potential to severely damage a home, including the roof. It is critical for homeowners to understand the serious dangers that snow can pose to the roof. Furthermore, everyone should know how a snow roof system can protect a home against the hazards of winter weather.
Snow can Overload the Roof
One of the biggest hazards of snow is that this can lead to overload. In areas of heavy snow accumulation, it takes a few feet of snow for the roof to collapse. On the other hand, the weather can be unpredictable. Snow can come down in sheets overnight. This can cause snow to pile up in certain areas of the roof. Even though the average amount of snow across the roof might only be a few inches, it might collect in certain pockets of the roof. This can lead to snow overload, causing the roof to collapse.
To prevent this from happening, it is important to get the roof inspected before the winter season. A trained roofing professional can spot structural issues with the roof, warn the homeowners of the risks, and get it repaired before disaster strikes.
Ice can Damage the Roof and Gutters
Even though hanging icicles might be beautiful to witness, they can also cause serious problems. If icicles are forming, this is the sign of an ice dam. They form when ice builds up along the eaves of the roof. This can damage the gutters and shingles, causing water to leak into the house. Ice dams form when heat distributes along the roof in an uneven manner. The culprit is usually a heated attic. When the attic is heated, snow falls down from the parts of the roof that rest on top of the heat source. Then, it refreezes along the eaves of the roof, leading to icicle formation.
In order to prevent ice dams, the ice should either be removed manually or melted evenly. It is important for homeowners to rely on trained professionals who can do this safely.
Protect Roofs from Winter Weather
The last thing any homeowner wants to deal with during the winter is a roof repair. To prevent serious damage from taking place, get the roof inspected ahead of time and invest in a modern snow safety system.