Roof damage is most commonly sustained during the winter months, especially if you live in Ohio. The temperature here fluctuates dramatically – one day it can be snowing, the next it can be fifty degrees and sunny. This is the perfect recipe for ice dams.
Ice dams are the leading cause of roof damage during the winter months. Ice dams are created when your home receives a massive amount of snowfall and is only given a short amount of time to melt. This allows for the snow to form into a sheet of thick ice. Melting snow backs up behind the ice dam and results in water leaking into your home, eventually causing damage to the interior of your house. Mold becomes a very real possibility in this instance, which can quickly become expensive to remove.
How Do Ice Dams Affect My Roof?
We all understand that when something freezes and thaws, it expands and contracts. When this is happening to your roof, the shingles sustain damage such as cracking and lift. When your shingles are not properly in place, this exposes the felt and decking of your roof, leading to expensive replacement.
Ice dams can form a lot easier than you think, too. The interior of your home is almost always above 32 degrees, while in the winter, the exterior is normally below freezing level. The temperature difference becomes even wider when your home is not appropriately insulated or sealed, further increasing the possibility of ice dams.
When ice dams form due to this temperature difference, it allows the moisture to sit on top of your roof instead of draining away. The longer it sits on your roof, the more likely it is to seep into the felt and reach the decking – resulting in costly replacement. If you’ve noticed icicles hanging from your gutters this winter or snow has collected for a long period of time on your roof without completely melting away, you need to call us for your spring inspection.
How Do I Know If My Roof Is Damaged?
One way to tell whether or not your roof has been damaged by the winter siege is to check for leaks. Are there dark spots on the ceiling of your attic or have you actually noticed water seeping through the ceiling? These are some of the obvious signs, but you want to catch the damage before you notice this. If there are already leaks, you will need to replace the affected decking.
Another less obvious sign that your roof has sustained damage is to check the state of your shingles. From the street or your yard, you can see whether or not you are missing shingles or if any of them are lifted. Nail pops are a common side effect from a bad winter and are often one of the first signs that your roof may be damaged. If you notice missing or lifted shingles, it’s time to call a professional to inspect your roof. Our company will inspect your roof at no charge and we’ll be honest with you about what your roof needs, if anything.
If you are lucky enough not to notice leaks yet, use a moisture meter in your attic to determine the humidity level. A high humidity level is an indication that water is leaking into your home, even if you do not see any sign of leaking. It’s possible that the moisture is collecting in your insulation and hasn’t had a chance to affect the interior of your home.
Earlier, we mentioned that you could look for lifted shingles when inspecting your roof for winter damage. Shingles can lift due to snow, ice, wind, or even just cold temperatures. The likelihood of these shingles sealing by themselves again is low and, while they’re in that position, they are no longer protecting the felt and decking from inclement weather. It’s important to contact a professional whenever you notice lifted shingles, in order to avoid more complicated issues down the line.
What If I Don’t Notice Any Damage?
Even if you have not yet noticed anything amiss with your shingles, a free spring inspection can never hurt. Some damage isn’t visible from street-level, so receiving a detailed inspection of your roof by a trusted professional can uncover damage that could later cause a more expensive replacement.
Some examples of damage you might miss from the street are slight curling of shingles, small dents in the fascia or ridge vents, pockmarked shingles, granulation loss, mold, decayed or stained soffit or fascia, clogged vents, loose chimney flashing, and so on. The list is endless, so it’s best to be safe and have a trained professional examine your roof for less noticeable damage before it becomes a much bigger problem.
What We Can Do To Help
If you aren’t sure whether your roof has incurred damage over the winter months, Columbus Windows and Siding will inspect your roof for free. Allowing a professional to look at your roof is one of the easiest ways to ensure that your roof has not sustained damage, especially considering all of the different components of a roof that could be affected.
When you contact Columbus Windows and Siding, a trained professional will visit your home, climb up on your roof, and conduct a detailed inspection. In addition to the shingles, they will inspect the flashing, soffit, fascia, ridge vent, and a variety of other roofing components.
Why Choose Columbus Windows and Siding?
Columbus Windows and Siding is a local business with an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and an A rating on Angie’s List. We’ve won the Best of Houzz award in 2017 and 2018, an accolade that homeowners bestow upon the most customer-focused and talented home improvement and remodeling businesses. We received this award by the vote of over forty million homeowners who take part in the Best of Houzz awards.
In addition to these qualifications, Columbus Windows and Siding is also a certified GAF Residential Roofing contractor. We are licensed, bonded, and insured, so you know you’re protected when you choose us. GAF certified contractors receive ongoing training directly from the manufacturer, so you know your roof is installed correctly!
We’re dedicated to providing the absolute best service for each of our clients, whether it’s a simple roof inspection or an all-over update of their roofing, siding, gutters, and windows. Drop us a line today and let’s make sure your roof is good to go for the rainy season!