Snow and Ice: How They Can Affect Your Shingle Roof in Ypsilanti Michigan

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Snow and Ice How They Can Affect Your Shingle Roof in Ypsilanti Michigan

Winter weather can be beautiful, but it can also wreak havoc on your home especially here in Michigan. One area that is particularly vulnerable is your roofing. And if you have a shingle roof in Ypsilanti Michigan, it’s important to be aware of how snow and ice can affect it—and what you can do to minimize damage. We’ll go over some of the things you should consider in this post below.

Snow and Ice: How They Can Affect Your Shingle Roof in Ypsilanti Michigan

Every winter the temperatures drop and you can expect snow and ice for at least three months. Once winter gets here most home owners tend to buckle down on home improvement projects and wait until the spring of the year to make any major repairs such as roof replacement. But sometimes it’s best to take care of the problems as they occur depending on exactly what’s going on with the roof. Here are some things that you should be aware of:

Shingle Roof in Ypsilanti Michigan in Winter

The Dangers of Ice Dams

One of the most common problems associated with shingle roofs in winter is ice dams. Ice dams form when heat escapes from your attic and melts the snow on your roof. The water then runs down to the edge of the roof, where it refreezes. This process forms a dam that prevents melting water from draining properly, which can lead to leaks and other damage.

To prevent ice dams, make sure your attic is properly insulated and ventilated so that heat doesn’t escape. You should also clear any snow and ice from your gutters so that melting water can drain freely.

Sometimes roof ice dams are caused by clogged gutters. If your gutters are full of leaves and other debris, they can prevent water from flowing freely, which can cause an ice dam to form. Be sure to clean your gutters regularly to prevent this problem. During the fall of the year many of the leaves will collect in gutters so cleaning right before winter gets here in full force can help to prevent roof ice dams.

The Weight of Snow and Ice

Another problem to be aware of is the weight of snow and ice accumulation on your roof. While shingles are designed to withstand a certain amount of weight, too much can cause them to crack or break. This is particularly true if the temperature fluctuates frequently, causing the snow and ice to thaw and refreeze.

Winter Home Maintenance Tips to Protect Your Roof in Ypsilanti Michigan

If you live in an area that gets a lot of snowfall, it’s a good idea to have your roof inspected regularly during winter. If necessary, have a professional clear away any accumulation that could endanger your roof.

Damages from Clearing Snow from the Roof

While it may seem like a good idea to continually clear the snow and ice from your roof it may end up causing problems. First of all, it’s important to make sure you don’t damage the shingles while doing so. Second, if you remove too much snow at once, it could cause the ice and snow to scrape away granules from the shingles on the roof.

If you do decide to clear the snow from your roof, use a soft brush or rake and be very careful not to damage the shingles. Start at the edge of the roof and work your way up, removing only small amounts of snow at a time. You should also be weary of the edge where the gutters are at as large amounts of snow and ice can rip gutters away from the home.

Avoiding These Problems

Of course, the best way to avoid any problems with your roof during winter is to have it inspected and repaired before the weather gets bad. This way you can be sure that any potential problems are taken care of before they have a chance to cause damage.

If you live in Ypsilanti Michigan and need help with your roof, contact Ypsilanti Roofing Company today for a free inspection and estimate. They’ll be happy to help you keep your roof in top condition all winter long! Call them today at (734) 291-0165 to schedule a roof inspection and get a quote on repairs or replacement for your roofing.

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