Of all the problems you can encounter around the house, roofing problems in the winter are by far the sneakiest. Leaks can develop and go unnoticed for years causing rot, mold, warping, and other expensive damage.
Some of us have tried using a regular snow shovel to remove excessive snow from the top of our homes to prevent roof damage. This technique, however, has some pretty obvious drawbacks, and can cause its own damage to shingles. You may be tempted to use rock salt or calcium chloride to melt the ice and snow. Unfortunately, this may also damage shingles. In fact, many shingle manufacturers warn against this, and it may void your warranty.
It is recommended that you go into your attic in the winter to check for leaks and water damage. Look at the eave edge of the roof for leaks from ice dams. You may spot areas that have been leaking for some time and catch it before serious damage is done to your dry walled ceilings. Special attention should be paid to areas where you have flashing (the metal or plastic weather stripping that will be around chimneys, pipes, vents, roof planes and eves) because this is typically the most likely area to develop leaks. It is also recommended that you visit the surface of your roof after the snow melts during good weather - to look for any loose, missing, eroded, warped or otherwise damaged shingles and to check the overall condition of your roof.
If you notice leaks or water marks on the walls or ceiling of your home, the damage is already done. Some roof repair operations are relatively inexpensive; nationally, the cost for asphalt shingle roof repair is about $600 compared to a new asphalt roof which will run $6,000 to $8,000.
Many Americans put off inspecting their roofs because their roof is relatively new. Unlike asphalt roofs of the past, todays modern asphalt roofs last 10-12 years and will need to be replaced. The short lives of asphalt roofs are fueling the rapid growth of the permanent metal roof market. As asphalt roofs become obsolete, Americans are switching to metal roofs which last the life of a home. They resist cracking, shrinking, they stand up to hail, high winds, and snow. To get an estimate on a permanent metal roof please visit American Metal Roofs for details.
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