With winter upon us, many Chicago-area homeowners have a whole new variety of roofing issues they should be aware of. While rain, strong winds, and hail can present challenges throughout most of the year, your roof is susceptible to damage from ice and snow when temperatures begin to drop, which can create a myriad of issues if not taken care of properly.
Canga Roofing, an experienced roofer servicing the suburbs of Chicago, has been tackling winter roof issues solutions since 2014, and can give advice on what to be on the lookout for, as well as necessary steps to take when your roof experiences issues between December and March.
Snow Accumulation
One of the most common December roof problems facing homeowners is snow. While small amounts won't have an impact on your roof, letting it accumulate all winter long can put immense stress on the entire system which could lead to structural damage or even a roof collapse.
Fortunately, this is a relatively easy problem to keep at bay. When there is six inches or more of snow sitting on top of your roof, carefully clear it off to alleviate any stress. Roofs are typically slippery in the winter, so it may be best to use a roof rake or call a roofing company to take care of this for you. If you know that your roof has its weak spots, get these reinforced by professional roofers before the winter weather rolls in.
Clogged or Frozen Gutters
Clogged gutters can present problems year-round for homeowners, but these become exacerbated during the colder months. If debris freezes in your gutters, it becomes that much harder for your roof to properly drain all the snowmelt and ice, potentially leading to water seeping beneath your shingles. After every tree in your yard has lost its leaves in the fall, make sure your gutters are completely cleared out before freezing temperatures start settling in.
Similarly, icicles hanging off your gutters may not look harmful, but they can warp, crack, or tear your gutters away from your home altogether. Make sure to remove icicles when you notice them to keep your gutters intact.
Formation of Ice Dams
An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of your roofline, which can lead to a whole slew of headaches for homeowners to deal with, including:
- Roof Leaks
- Structural Damage
- Attic or Ceiling Damage
- Mold, Mildew and Rot
- Drywall Damage
- Roof Collapse
Homes are typically susceptible to ice dams forming when the attics aren't properly insulated. Your attic should be cold during the winter, but if the heat from your home is making its way up there, it's causing the snow on your roof to turn into water, run down and re-freeze on your roofline. Fix ice dams and leaks by placing a sock of calcium chloride deicer along these ice dams, which should allow them to melt faster, or use an ice dam tool to chip away at them and loosen their structure.
Canga Roofing has provided reliable roof repairs to the Chicago suburbs for over a decade and understand the specific types of damage roofs commonly experience in the cold Midwest winters. We can conduct roof inspections before snowfall begins to make sure yours is ready to go beforehand or quickly get on top of repairs when winter is already underway.
Reach out to the roofing experts at Canga Roofing today for a free estimate on our roof repairs services and get more information on all that we can do to keep you, and your roof protected all winter long.
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