When winter winds howl and snow builds up around your house, you rely on your roof to keep your family snug and protected. However, your asphalt shingle roof could be vulnerable to storm damage, especially if it's old. Stay alert for signs of roof damage in the winter so you can call a roofing contractor as soon as possible for repairs. Here are four ways winter storms can damage an asphalt shingle roof.
1. Blizzards Produce Winds That Lift Shingles
The strong winds that cause snow drifts to pile up next to your home can also cause asphalt shingles to lift off and fly away. With the shingles gone, snow covers the bare deck or the underlayment and begins to cause water damage that could lead to a roof leak.
2. Icy Tree Branches Snap Off And Hit Your Roof
It's a good idea to always keep tree branches away from your roof, but it's especially true in the winter. If you forget to cut back the trees, the branches could get heavy with ice and snap off and crash into your roof.
The impact of a heavy, frozen branch could cause shingles to crack. If the branch slides across the roof or is pushed by strong wind, the branch could cause a lot of shingle damage. The roofing contractor might need to replace several shingles once the storm is over.
3. Snow Piles Up And Gets Too Heavy For Your Roof
A deep snow could cause roof damage if the snow piles up on your roof, especially if the snow is wet and heavy. If you see signs of your ceiling bowing or your roof leaking, you may need to call someone to remove the snow from your roof if you can't reach it with a snow rake yourself.
In extreme cases, heavy snow can cause a roof to collapse, and in that case, you'll need quick help from a roofing contractor to at least cover the roof until it can be replaced.
4. Sleet Coats Your Roof In Ice
Sleet can be a problem when it forms an ice sheet on your roof. The bits of ice might get driven under the shingles and lead to water leaking on the deck. If the ice melts and refreezes, an ice dam could form that causes water to be forced under the shingles.
Plain snow and freezing rain can also cause an ice dam to form. You might need a roofing contractor to replace shingles and part of the deck due to water damage if you've had problems with ice dams over the winter.
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