Welcome to Family Roofing

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At Family Roofing, we take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality and customer service. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. Our reputation is based on service, safety and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.

 

WINTER ROOF PROBLEMS

 

While the idea of snowy landscapes might be pretty magical, the reality of winter is that it’s wet, cold and testing for your property.  That’s especially true for the roof, which has to bear the brunt of the weather for several weeks on end.  Unfortunately, the drop in temperatures and rise in rainfall poses a number of problems for your roof.

“Why is my roof leaking in the winter?”

This is a common question asked by many homeowners during the winter season when their roof experiences extra wear and tear.  Leaks and other damage can occur from several kinds of common roof problems in the winter.  The good news is that there are methods you can use to avoid these problems from causing further damage to your roof.

Tree Branches

Ice and snowstorms can add extra weight to tree branches, causing them to break and fall.  If a tree is too close to your home, these branches can easily cause damage to your roof and can potentially cause other problems as well.  A simple solution to this issue is to trim back the branches of trees before winter hits so they are at least three feet away from your home.

Unwanted Pests

You aren’t the only one who wants to be inside a warm home during the winter.  There are many kinds of pests that want to get inside your house to share in the warmth, including squirrels, mice, and rats.  Before you plug any holes in your roof or your home’s exterior, you need to make sure that all uninvited animals are gone.  This may mean that you need to call an exterminator.

Ice Dams

Of all the problems on this list, ice dams can be the most hazardous for your roof.  Ice damming occurs when heat escaping from the attic exits only at the top part instead of all throughout the roof.  When this happens, snow melts but then freezes again as it reaches the edge of the roof.  These ice dams can cause a host of problems, such as blocking the gutters, adding unnecessary weight on the roof edge and exerting pressure on the shingles. They can form at the edge of your roof and prevent melting snow from draining properly.  This, in turn, will cause more damage to your home and insulation and can cause mildew and mold to grow.  As far as preventing roof leaks from ice dams, you’ll need to make sure your roof has efficient ventilation and insulation since dams form when higher portions of your roof are warmer than lower portions.  If one has developed on your roof, it’s best to call a professional to help you remove it safely.

Leaks

First – and easily the most common – are leaks.  While your roof might seem to be coping fine throughout spring, summer and autumn, winter often brings heavier rainfall.  A tiny crack which was letting in a small amount of unnoticeable water could turn into a significant leak.

Freeze-thaw

Freeze-thaw action is a type of weathering, where water gets into cracks and freezes into ice.  In doing so, it causes any cracks to expand, allowing more water in the next time, which can then repeat the process.  As well as affecting natural landscapes, this process can take its toll on your roof and guttering.  Even the smallest crack can become much bigger over the course of winter, as temperatures fluctuate between sub-zero and above freezing.

Flashing Leaks

The thin metal strips that protect the most vulnerable parts of sloped residential roofing systems are equally at risk, if not even more so, during winter.  That said, by the time winter arrives, the flashings may already be so damaged that even something as simple as packed snow can loosen them.  It’s a good idea to have the flashings checked and replaced once they show signs of wear and tear.  This is to avoid leaks that can potentially damage the roof over the course of the winter season.

Freezing Gutters

This is another fairly common problem in winter that stems from ice dams, which are caused by improper attic insulation.  Ice dams cause severe blockages that can outright damage the gutters. Fortunately, solving your ice dam problem prevents gutter freezing in the first place.

Condensation

When warm air meets a cold surface, condensation will occur.  While usually this is a minor issue, too much condensation can cause moisture to build up within the shingles, damaging them over the course of the winter season.  Installing insulation addresses this problem although we recommend waiting after winter before you install the new insulation.

Taking time to care for your roof just before, during, and immediately following the harsh treatment it receives in the cold season will protect your investment in your home by preventing severe winter roof damage, thereby delaying the need for a new roof, minimizing roof repairs, and avoiding costly leaks.