How to Protect Your Roof from the Colorado Winter
Now that the temperatures have started to drop, it's only a matter of time before white flurries arrive. When snow falls on your roof, it behaves differently than rain. And understanding the difference is key to preparing for the season.
The high elevations of the Front Range mean that sometimes the snow will fall and keep on falling. And as the temperatures rise – especially after the sun comes up, the snow will melt off the way that it should. But after the sun goes down, the temperature drops and the water turns into ice, which can spell bad news for your roof.
When water becomes trapped in small holes or exposures in your roof and then freezes into ice – it expands. This causes gaps to widen, allowing more water to get into your roof, causing major damage and threatening the roof’s integrity. Here are 3 key places to look for openings before winter arrives.
- Flashing. One of the most common places to find seams or breaks is in your roof’s flashing – the metal pieces, which come together to form a valley for runoff to occur. It can also be used as a sealant in spots where the chimney meets the roof of the house.
- Loose or missing shingles. Like links in a chain, each shingle must support the roof as a whole. One missing shingle may not seem like a problem, until you consider that water will not flow over that shingle as it's supposed to.
- Clogged gutters. If water can't drain properly, it freezes in place and creates the type of an ice dam that is quite dangerous to the soffits underneath.
Unfortunately, these types of problems won't fully manifest themselves until after water begins to freeze. And by then, it could be too late to avoid more costly repairs.
The best way to prevent expensive damage is by having your roof professionally inspected before the winter hits. A local roofing contractor, like the experts at Total Roofing, will be able to find and repair issues like broken flashing or missing shingles, saving you time, money and stress.
Total Roofing, a top roofing contractor in Colorado Springs and voted best roofing contractor in the area for the past two years, guarantees your complete satisfaction. The company provides residential and commercial roofing services throughout southern Colorado.
Call 719-591-4947 or drop by our website today to request a free roof assessment.
