In our area of Central Pennsylvania, winter is not really a very friendly time for your roof. The harsh winter weather can create all types of problems that if not caught early can lead to very costly roof replacements. Here are a few things to consider that hopefully will end up saving you money.
Be extremely careful. Setting up ladders and getting onto a roof in winter time can be hazardous to your health. If you think a roof repair bill is expensive, just compare that to a trip to the hospital. Companies, like mine, have people who are professionals and are trained in Roof Safety. They know what to do and how to do it safely.
If you must get up there yourself, make sure that you have someone else with you. Make sure that the base of your ladder is secure. Have the second person hold the ladder at the bottom while you go up. Fasten the ladder to something (maybe the gutter) at the top so that it will not slide or blow over.
To shovel or not to shovel? Pretty much every year we end up repairing or replacing roofs where the roof has been damaged due to snow removal. Especially with single ply membranes, any tear or puncture of the membrane can lead to roof leaks or even catastrophic roof failure. The damage that we encounter is due to people removing snow that do not know what they are doing. Shovels or any other sharp object should NOT come into contact with the roof.
Roof Inspections One of the reasons that we recommend inspecting your roof in the Spring and the Fall is to avoid having to get up on the roof in the Winter. Your Fall roof inspection is to make sure that your roof is ready for the upcoming Winter and the Spring roof inspection is to look for any damage that may have occurred over the winter months.
How deep is it? Sometimes we run into roof leaks that only occur when the snow reaches a certain height on the roof. This may allow water to run in over the tops of flashings, into vents or roof top units. This happens very rarely however, as good roofing practice is to have flashing heights at least 8″ above the roof surface.
ICE, ICE Baby Ice can be very damaging, especially if it is falling from a height. Proper planning is important to attempt to eliminate this from happening. If you do see large icicles or chunks of ice at the edge of your roof, be careful that no one goes underneath of this area.
IF you have any questions about your roof, please contact us. We are out there trying to work all year long. Some days we just have to bundle up!
Related articles
- Roofing Details (heidler.com)
- Re-Roofing – Why, When and How? (commercialroofinglosangeles.wordpress.com)
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Homeowners should not be on a roof or ladder shoveling snow from the roof. It’s dangerous for them and as you point out the risk of damaging roofing surface is very real. Use a broom if you must – much softer and will not cause damage. And remember, your safety should be your #1 priority!
I completely agree with you. Thank you for stopping by!