As anyone who lives in a region of the country that experiences severe winter weather like Denver, Colorado, is well-aware, the exterior of your home is forced to withstand a wide variety of weather conditions including snow, ice, freezing rain, and high winds, and much more. Of particular interest in the roofing material that is exposed to those inclement conditions.
Your existing shingles (metal shingles or asphalt shingles), tiles, shake, or metal roofing products must be strong enough to deal with the weather so that it is able to protect you, your family, and your personal belongings. It is important that your roof remains in good condition throughout the entire year, but the winter season often brings with it a seriously damaging effect on the roof. Once the spring warmth thaws the snow and ice, you may discover that your entire roof has been negatively impacted by the winter.
It is highly recommended that you have a certified and professional roofing contractor inspect and evaluate your roof following the winter thaw to ensure that there is no damage. With some roofing systems in snow country, you will almost certainly discover some damage from ice and snow accumulation. Fortunately, there is a type of roofing that can withstand the cold weather without becoming damaged as easily: metal roofs.
How Do the Winter Months Affect Roofing Materials?
Although there is a certain beauty to the glistening snow on yards and roofs as well as the icicle formations dangling from the eaves, but these elements can also present specific dangers to your roof. Some of the most common effects that winter weather conditions have on your roofing materials include:
- Ice dams
- Attic condensation which can lead to mold damage
- Excess weight on the roof leads to a bowed ceiling or collapsed roof
- Cracking above windows and doors
- Leaks in the roof
- High winds resulting in loose, broken, or missing shingles
When there are so many potential issues related to inclement weather during the winter season, it is critical that you have a roof that can stand up to these elements and continue to keep your family safe throughout the entire year. Without regular inspections and maintenance of your roof, you may end up having to do major repairs or even have a new metal roof installed on your home after the winter is done.
What Are Ice Dams?
One of the most serious issues that many homeowners have to deal with during the winter is the formation of ice dams on their roofs. Ice dams are buildups of snow and ice on the eaves of your roof.
They are formed when snow accumulation on the roof melts due to the rising heat from the interior of the house leaks out, and this melted snow flows down the slope of the roof. Eventually, it reaches the gutters where there is no leaking warmth, so the water re-freezes and begins to build up in the gutter. Soon, it forms a large ice dam.
A clear indication that you have an ice dam is icicle formations hanging from the eaves. These dams need to be removed before they cause serious harm to anyone or anything that may be passing below them if they fall on their own. Ice dams can also cause severe damage to the roof itself as well as leaks when water is able to seep into the attic through spaces between the shingles.
Ice melt systems can be very effective in preventing the dams from forming in the first place, and HotEdge is proud to offer a variety of different ice melt systems for all types of roofs, including metal roof systems. Whether you have a traditional metal roof or something more unique, our team at HotEdge can get an ice melt system properly installed on your roof to prevent damage from dangerous icicles and dams to your new roof and other materials.
Benefits of Metal Roofing during the Winter Season
Metal roofing has become a very popular option for the new home construction as well as replacement roofs. There are a wide variety of benefits of installing a metal roof on your home, especially when it comes to the winter season. These benefits include:
- Better protection for your home from the harsh winter environment through interlocking metal shingles, tile, shakes, and standing seam roofing
- Able to withstand severe winds as well as snow and ice
- Excellent insulator of heat so metal roofing provides great insulation for your home, especially in very cold conditions
- Durable and long-lasting when installed correctly so metal roofing can last up to 50 years without any repairs, even in the harshest of snow country
- Little to no maintenance is needed
- Snow slides off of metal roofing materials so ice dams are not a problem
When it comes to installing a roofing system with a great fire rating that can protect your home or building from the harshest of weather conditions, even in Denver, Colorado, it is a wise choice to consider metal roofing.
Metal is an industry leader, and, when professionals install it correctly, the metal roof can last for many years with very little maintenance and virtually no repairs. Contact a roofing expert to find out the total cost of any of the various metal roofing materials you can have installed.
Contact Our Ice Dam Experts to Learn about the Effects of Winter Weather on Metal Roofs
If you are a resident who has metal roofing on their home or building, you may already be aware of the many advantages that metal provides. At HotEdge, we have ice melt systems designed to increase the value of that metal roof by making sure that there will never be any potential for weather damage caused by winter conditions.
Contact HotEdge to learn more about how our ice melt systems can be very advantageous for homes with any type of roofing system. Our team understands the value of keeping your roof in great condition, and we are here to help you achieve that goal.
