The cold seeps into your bones causing you to shiver. The gloves on your hand are bulky and make it difficult to hold on to the brush you’re using to clean the roof. Sweeping the snow off the roof is a long, arduous task that will take you at least an hour to complete. After ten minutes, you give up. It’s too cold to be outside, and what’s the worst that could happen? There’s not that much buildup. You go back inside your home where it’s nice and warm. You don’t go back up there for the rest of the winter. A few months later, when Spring starts rolling around, there’s several leaks in your roof and the seals are broken. You curse at the sky. What could have caused all this water damage?
Extra Debris and Water Don’t Mix
The answer is simple: When you neglected to sweep your roof, the leaves and debris that were on your roof clogged your drains and gutters. So, when the snow and ice melted and turned into water, there was nowhere for it to go. It sat on the roof, causing excessive weight that compromised the structural integrity of your roof. The water sunk in further and further until your roof began to leak and the seal broke. It’s also possible that ice dams formed, causing water to back up under your shingles.
How to Avoid Leaks and Water Damage
During the Winter it’s important to keep your roof clean so this doesn’t happen. While most home policies will cover winter storm damages with adequate documentation, such as receipts and photos of proof or damage, why go through the hassle of making a claim when you can simply prevent the issue from happening?
Inspect Your Roof Before Winter Hits
Get a trained, licensed professional like Roof Savers to check your roof for missing or curling shingles. While we’re up there, we’ll look out for cracked flashing around vents and chimneys, clogged gutters, poor ventilation, and signs of moisture intrusion as well. If we find anything, we’ll repair it so it doesn’t become a bigger issue later on.
Use the Right Tools for Snow Removal
When it comes down to it, roof rakes with extendable handles will allow you to remove snow from your roof safely. You can use a seed spreader when temperatures are above freezing to evenly distribute ice melt on your driveway and walkway. You should avoid using metal and mechanical tools as they can damage your roof.
Avoid Walking on the Roof
Walking on shingles during freezing conditions can cause damage to your roof. It’s also dangerous to walk on it because they’re slippery. Instead use a method you can implement from the ground, like a roof rake as mentioned previously.
When in Doubt, Don’t Stress Out. Call Roof Savers Minnesota!
If you weren’t prepared for Winter and any potential heavy snowstorms, don’t freak out. Many people do not know how to handle these types of situations. These days it’s best to expect the unexpected, especially when it comes to the weather! Call Roof Savers Minnesota before it’s too late and we’ll help you figure out a plan before the water damage gets inside your home.
