It may be nice to live in Southern Ontario, but when winter comes, it may be a struggle to get through the harsh season. Moreover, with the ongoing global warming problem, the weather during winter doesn’t seem like it will be getting any better. This is why you need to take care of your roof, which is one of the most important house features that will protect you from the freezing cold weather outdoors. Your roof is not invulnerable and can be damaged as a result of ice and snow during the winter. This is why you must know how to identify the damage and how to fix the problem. Here is what you’ll need to know:
Roof Condensation Problem
The common causes of roof condensation problems are improper ventilation and inadequate insulation due to the effect of warm air meeting a cold surface under the roof. Spotting roof condensation can be quite tricky because the problem doesn’t appear immediately. Rather, you will notice condensation problem when you don’t check it for a long time.
Condensation will create mold and mildew inside the house. To prevent this from happening, you should check your attic once or twice per year if there is visible evidence of water damage or an accumulation of moisture.
Ice Dams
This problem is more evident than condensation under your roof. In fact, most Canadian homeowners encounter this problem every winter! Ice dams occur when the top of the roof is warmer than the edge of the roof. Once the snow and ice melt and flow down, it hits the cold edges of the room, forming a ridge of ice. The causes of ice dams are the same as condensation – low ventilation and insulation.
Ice dams can lead to severe problems that will cost you a considerable amount later on. For example, if snow and ice keep melting down and form bigger ice dams, the eavestroughs will be damaged as they can’t support the weight of ice dams. Not only that, but they could also prevent ventilation and water from draining. To get rid of this problem, you should contact a roofing professional since some ice dams are too risky and dangerous to remove on your own.
Leaky Roof Flashings
If you don’t know what flashings are, they are the metal pieces over the roof’s joints. You can also spot them near your chimneys and vents. The purpose of having roof flashings is to prevent the occurrence of water damage. If your flashings are damaged, it is possible that your roof might leak because they are what protects all of the sensitive parts of the roof.
The cause of leaky flashings will be from the moisture that results from snow and ice during wintertime. As the water expands, the metal pieces may be lifted up, causing water damage within the house. If you spot water leaks in your attic, vent, or chimney, you can make an assumption that it results from leaky flashings. This is the time when you should take a look at the flashings and get them fixed. You can get professional help or choose to fix them yourself, but make sure that you are extremely careful. Now that you know how to spot roof problems and how to deal with them, you are ready for this upcoming winter!
Custom Contracting is a family-owned company that provides roofing, siding, custom window and door installation, and eavestrough contractor services in and around Burlington and Hamilton Ontario – get in touch today to see how we can help!
