How the Cold Weather Can Affect Your Roof

The whole point of having a home is to separate yourself from the elements. The problem is, sometimes those elements affect your home. More specifically, the cold weather can affect your home’s roof. Though the colder and snowier the locale, the bigger the issue is, the cold weather in warmer states can also affect your roof too.

It’s important to know what the cold weather can do to your roof and why the cold weather will harm your roof. Knowing is the first step towards taking action.

This article will cover how the frosty weather can affect your roof this winter.

Water damage

The same force that creates canyons and smooths rocks over time (water), can also harm your roof. While most roofs are slanted downwards for better water drainage, issues can still crop up, especially in the winter. Your roof undergoes a repeated heating and cooling process during the winter. It heats up during the day when the sun is out and your heat is on, and it cools down significantly at night when the weather is frigid, and your heat is usually off.

This process means that your roof is expanding and contracting (albeit slightly) every day. This can lead to gaps in your flashing or shingles coming loose, providing water (and cold air) a way through your roof and into your home. This can lead to larger issues like mold and should be taken care of immediately.

Wind damage

If you’ve ever been outside in the winter in bitter cold temperatures, you can attest to how painful a strong wind truly is. This makes sense because of Boyle’s law. Boyle’s law states that “the density of a gas varies inversely with the temperature.” This means that, because cold air is denser than warm air, it generates a greater force.

This explains why Antarctica is the windiest place on earth. It also could spell doom for your roof. Colder air is more forceful than hot air and is more likely to rip the shingles from your home’s roof. This problem is made worse when tiny bits of ice stick to your shingles, making them easier to pry loose.

Ice damage

Although southern states don’t get much snow, there can be problems with ice. The month of January is typically the worst for this, as it has the highest combination of days that are below 32°F while still receiving an average of 4 inches of rain. Ice damage is likely the worst for your roof, and ice dams and icicles can form due to insufficient or improper ventilation or insulation.

Ice dams occur when ice forms unevenly across your roof, preventing other water from draining, which only exacerbates the problem. Icicles form due to water overflowing from your gutters and freezing as it drips down. This can strain your gutters structurally or eventually lead to rot. If you notice icicles or ice dams, you should address them as soon as you can, while remembering to put your safety first.

Call for roofing services today

You can prevent unnecessary damage to your roof by remembering what the cold weather can do to your roof and why the cold weather will harm your roof. If you need roofing help, call us at Dallas Cherry Roofing. We’re the experts when it comes to roofing, and we can help you fix any roofing problems you may be having.

Categorised in: Roof Maintenance

This post was written by Writer