When winter hits Minnesota, you can expect a lot of snow and ice. Protecting your roof from snow and ice damage makes sense– after all, you don’t want any major problems with your roof when it’s 10 degrees outside!
How can a homeowner protect their roof from ice damage?
#1 Inspect Your Roof And Get All The Needed Repairs Done:
Before winter, you should hire professionals to determine whether your roof is in good condition or not. If you (or they) observe cracks, missing or damaged shingles, cracked gutters, and/or damaged caulking areas, then it is important that you get all the needed repairs completed by roofing repair professionals before winter storms arrive.
#2 Prevent Ice-Dams On The Roof:
During winter, water freezes, melts, and then refreezes all along the edge of the roof creating ice dams. When these occur, water can leak into the house and cause damage to the ceiling(s), insulation, and walls.
Before winter arrives, you can add insulation to your attic. With the help of this additional insulation, you can keep your house warm and the roof colder. Then, water would not melt and ultimately find its way inside the house. Insulate recessed lighting fixtures, too, so they don’t heat up your attic.
Whenever you see that snow is building up on your roof, remove it regularly with a roof rake. This way you can prevent the snow from accumulating over the shingles and causing damage.
#3 Ensure That The Roof Gutters Are Clean:
If your gutters are not cleaned properly and they are full of granules and debris, you’ll have problems.The debris and granules block the melted ice from properly flowing down… and this melted water will refreeze in the gutters. This ice formation will likely cause damage to the gutters and the roof. Moreover, you should also check the downspouts and ensure that water is reaching the ground level.
Schedule a roof inspection and cleaning by hiring professionals from Arko. They can make sure that your roof and gutters are cleaned and there are no signs of damage.
Also, keep tree limbs trimmed so they don’t fall and break or clog your gutter.
#4 Proper Ventilation Is Required In The Attic:
During the winter season, moisture present in the air gets built-up and can cause damage to the underlying layer of the roof, the insulation, and the interior of the house. To prevent roof damage, you need to maintain an optimum temperature. If it is not maintained then condensation will take place. Therefore, proper ventilation is required in the attic area. With proper ventilation, you can keep the temperature in sync with the exterior temperature. This will prevent moisture buildup in the underlying roof area.
Summary:
Homeowners should regularly inspect their roof to know its condition and get all repairs done before they cause serious damages. If you do not remove the build-up of snow and ice from the roof, it can cause damage to the roof and the interior of the house (ceiling, wall, insulation). You can hire a professional to inspect the condition of the roof and get it repaired, especially before winter arrives.