Are you living in East York and dealing with real winters? As we all know that people living there have to encounter heavy snow, freezing temperatures, and when March and April arrive everything starts to melt.
This seasonal change is called ‘Spring thaw’, it is a welcome sign that indicates that the weather is getting warmer, however, it can damage your roof as well. This time of year in East York can be tough for your roof. Therefore, in this article we will discuss seasonal roof maintenance so that you can avoid any serious damage to your roof.
What is freeze-thaw cycle?
As the name suggests, a freeze-thaw cycle is a process that includes the process of repeated freezing and melting of water that causes the rocks and pavements to break apart.
However, in this case East York gets a freeze-thaw which means that during the day the snow melts when your roof warms due to sun. At night, when the temperature drops below freezing again and the water on the roof turns back to ice.
So, when the snow melts, the water finds tiny cracks and when it freezes at night it expands and causes breakage to your roof. Therefore, to prevent ice dam damage you must follow the Ontario’s building code that requires roofs that handle snow weight but with time it gets vulnerable and you need to follow the preventive measures.
Here are a few things that you need to do to prevent damage:
Cleaning of gutters and downspouts before melt:
This is the first simplest and most effective step that you need to follow to get rid of winter roof damage. This is because the eaves trough and downspouts are meant to carry meltwater away from your home. If these are clogged or filled with debris, twigs or leaves water will not be able to pass.
So, you need to clear the downspouts and make sure the downspouts extend atleast 5 feet away from the foundation so that snowmelt roof leaks doesn’t make a pool around the house causing inconvenience.
Prevention of ice dams and proper attic ventilation:
Ice dams is also one of the biggest problems in East York homes. When the upper part of the roof melts the snow and the lower eaves are still freezing this is when the ice dams are formed. The melt water runs down and refreezes at the edge of the roof, forming a ridge of ice. So, the water pools behind the ridge and seeps under shingles eventually to the attic.
Therefore, here in this case you must have insulation on your attic so that it prevents heating the roof deck.
Fix all the area around the attic for air leaks.
As the goal is to keep the attic temperature closer to the temperature outside, therefore, consider having installed roofer heat trace cables along the edges as a backup solution for ice dams.
Professional roof inspection:
It is recommended to have an inspection team look for roof moisture problems after winter. As everything cannot be seen from the ground. A roof contractor can do spring inspection in East York, either for free or with a small fee for roof water damage.
Having your roof checked will help you out with:
- Damaged shingles: Curled, cracked or missing shingles from ice and wind.
- Flashing issues: This includes inspection of the metal around the chimneys, skylights and roof valleys that lead to indoor leaks after freeze-thaw cycles.
- Granule loss: Asphalt shingles shed granules with time. So , when there are too many in gutter, it means that the shingles are wearing out.
Therefore, catching snowmelt roof leaks in March is cheaper that dealing with actual ceiling leak in April.
Safe management of Snow and Ice Buildup:
Roof weather protection is crucial in the Spring to prevent damage to roof. So, if there is more than 2 feet of snow or large icicles are hanging from the eaves, then you must consider it as a problem.
Here is what you should do:
- With a roof rake that has a long handle, pull down the snow from the roof. It reduces weight without damaging the shingles.
- Clear the gutters so that meltwater and Spring rainfall can easily escape.
These are the things you should avoid:
- Climbing roof can be dangerous.
- Don’t use chemicals and salt as it might damage shingles and void warranties.
- Do not ignore large icicles as they can fall and hurt someone and they are also a sign of ice dam.
There are many companies that offer professional snow removal services in East York during heavy winters so consider them before its late.
Some more precautions that you need to take:
- Look for damages inside.
- Check your walls and ceilings for water stains.
- Check your attic for damp insulation, any foul smell and water droplets on the inside of the roof.
- Trim your trees regularly so that the debris from the branches doesn’t clog the gutters.
- Clean gutters regularly in fall.
Spring thaw in East York doesn’t mean roof leaks or costly repairs all it is about is paying attention to snowmelt water. In a nutshell, clean gutters, cold attic and solid shingles are the main things you need to focus on. Therefore, melting snow on roof will not be a problem with correct prevention and preparation.
