The winters in Iowa can be quite cold and fairly snowy at times. This combination can be disastrous for your home’s roof. That’s because damaging ice dams can form on the roof, or water can leak through it into your house. We’ll explain the most important steps to take to make sure your roof stands up to this winter’s weather without any problems.
Check for Signs of Roof Leaks
Before winter’s worst weather arrives, it’s a good idea to inspect around skylights and look in your attic for any signs that indicate your roof is leaking. That means checking for things like visible staining and water spots on sheetrock ceilings and the trusses or rafters in the attic that support your roof. You also need to make sure you can’t see light shining through the roof anywhere since this obviously indicates leaks.
It’s ideal to check for these things early in the fall so that you can have any issues with your roof repaired before winter comes and snow starts falling. While it’s possible to repair a roof in the winter, professional roofers will only go on your roof to repair it when it’s completely free of snow and ice.
Ensure Proper Roof Ventilation and Attic Insulation
The biggest roofing concern during the winter is when an ice dam forms at the edge of the roof. Ice dams develop due to warm air in the attic heating up the roof deck and causing the layer of snow that’s directly touching the roof to melt. The snowmelt then starts flowing underneath the upper layer of snow and draining away toward the edge of the roof. However, much of the water then ends up freezing near the eave, where the roof deck is much colder. The eventual result is a thick buildup of ice that acts like a dam and blocks water from flowing into the gutter. That means water just flows straight off the roof and drips down next to the house.
Having adequate insulation on the attic floor and the underside of the roof is critical for preventing ice dams since it prevents the attic and the roof deck from heating up. Sufficient roof ventilation is also key for allowing heat to escape the attic and cold air to flow into it from outside.
The reason ice dams are such a concern is that they can cause extensive damage and lead to leaks. That’s partly because the ice can lift some shingles and allow water to get underneath them. It’s also because the dam can cause quite a bit of water to pool up on the roof. Large ice dams can also bend gutters so that they no longer have the necessary slope for water to flow into the downspout.
Clean Out Your Gutters
Gutters are prone to clogging with dead leaves during the fall and not draining properly. Cleaning out your gutters or hiring a professional to do it also reduces the chances of ice dams. If the gutters are clogged, all the water from snow melting on a warmer day can pool up in the gutters and then freeze and create an ice dam overnight.
Schedule a Professional Roof Inspection
If you want to ensure your home’s roof is ready for winter, contact a professional roofing contractor and have them perform a full inspection. An experienced roofer will be able to quickly determine if your roof has sufficient insulation and if both the roof and attic are properly insulated. They can also check your attic and ceilings to identify leaks or any issues like damaged shingles that could result in the roof leaking over the winter. They’ll also check to make sure no parts of the roof are sagging. Sags generally indicate that part of the wooden roof deck has started rotting, which could lead it to collapse after an unusually heavy snowfall.
When you need any residential or commercial roofing services in Davenport or the Quad Cities, Evenhouse Roofing is the contractor you can trust. We’ve been in business since 2015 and are committed to providing the highest quality roof repair and replacement services. We also offer expert roof inspections as well as gutter, siding and skylight installation and replacement.
If you need help to get your roof ready for harsh winter weather, give us a call at Evenhouse Roofing today.
