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!
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
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!
It’s always interesting to hear about the challengers roofers face in other regions. The winter can get pretty bad here on Colorado roofs, too!
Yeah, I lived out there my first year of college when I went to the University of Denver. Beautiful area!
I live in the Falmouth Maine area. I recently puhesarcd a home with a low sloped roof and it is leaking. I was hoping to get some advice on how to repair the leak myself. Here is the situation: The roof is a low sloped dormer with a shed roof. It only leaks in winter when snow is present and the days are warm and nights are cold. I assume the ice is backing up under the the three tab shingles. I was hoping I could tear the three tabs off and Grace Ice and Water Shield the entire roof deck and use architectural shingles instead of rolled roofing. I really don’t like the looks of rolled roofing and the roof is seen often, as it downhill of the road. Please give me your comments on the pros and cons of what I would like to do. ThanksMark
Mark,
That sounds like a good solution to me if the roof has the required minimum slope for your architectural shingles. Make sure that your drip edge metal directs the water into the gutter and that the gutters stay clear of debris.
“I personally think it is a beettr roof than asphalt “Sounds like your mind is made up. My experience goes the other way, though. I’ve got them both, here in Tennessee, right now. Of the four buildings, the best roof has heavy weight shingles. Problems with tin roofs are: Rust, bending in the wind, or worse yet, blowing off. They sweat, leak, and dent with hail. They’re great for an old barn or a cabin porch, but I wouldn’t cover a decent investment with it.
Hi there.I live in Falmouth Maine and I have a leak around my cnimhey. It appears to have leadflashing around it. How can you tell if the flashing needs to be replaced. There does not seem to have any tears or holes, but each piece of flashing you can see daylight from the attic. Should I take a caulking gun and seal all those pieces up with silicone or something? I just feel like the water must be coming in around those areas when the wind drives the rain up the roof. Maybe I am wrong and there is an easier solution. I am open to any advice. Thanks.
If you can see daylight around the flashing, water can get in. I would definitely use a high grade caulking and seal around those areas where water could enter. First clean out any old deteriorated sealant. This is something that should be checked every year or so, because the sealants don’t last forever.