Ah, winter, the most wonderful time of the year! Time for holidays, and family, cuddling up inside with hot cocoa, gooey marshmallows, and all the warm fuzzy things. On the outside, the weather wreaks havoc on your home. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent damage caused by snow and ice.

 

Damage Caused by Winter Weather

Wintertime can damage the roof, gutters, and the siding of your house. Once the exterior of your house is damaged, water can leak into your home, impacting the ceilings, walls, and basement. This leads to all kinds of problems from mold to damaged drywall, ineffective insulation, and even fire hazards.

 

There are three things to prepare for:

 

Snow Accumulation

As pretty as it is, snow accumulation is heavy. The weight of the snow can eventually cause roof shingles to crack or break. Furthermore, at some point, the snow has to melt. That can lead to a huge water flow, possible roof leaks, and more ice if the temperatures dip below freezing at night.

 

Plus, snow not only accumulates on the roof, it builds up on tree branches as well. Snow can build up so much that branches break off the trees. The fallen branches oftentimes land on the roof causing even more damage.

 

Freezing Temperatures

Freezing temperatures turn water into ice. As dangerous as ice can be on its own, it can do even more damage once it has melted. Some of the ice is a result of water slipping into places it shouldn’t. Once the temperature dips below freezing again, that water freezes up as well. Later, it thaws out, and you have a mess. When temperatures get lower, frozen pipes can be another big concern. Making sure to service your heating system and maintain your plumbing system can help prevent any problems.

 

Freezing also affects the siding of your house. Siding can expand and contract in bad weather. This can cause cracks and, eventually, water to leak inside your house.

 

Ice Dams

Ice dams form when the snow on the roof closest to the house melts because of the heat flowing up from the inside. After several days of trapped ice melting during the day and then freezing at night, water gets trapped behind shingles in the roof, and ice dams can form. The ice dams create blockages in the gutters, preventing melting water from draining properly. Ice dams can even become heavy enough to cause the gutters to break away from the house.

What You Can Do

Follow these steps before the start of the winter season:

  • Check for obvious signs of damage to the roof, gutters, and siding
  • Hire a professional to clean your roof
  • Prune the trees around your house during the fall
  • Clean the gutters
  • Look for cracks in the siding
  • Seal cracks around your house

 

Winter-Proof Your Home

Pierce Roofing has nearly three decades of experience repairing and installing roofing, gutters, and siding. Save yourself the hassle. Call or visit us today and let one of our professionals get your home ready for the upcoming winter season. Taking preparations in the fall season can help to prevent damage due to winter weather.