Winter is the season of holidays with family, fun in the snow, and cozying up in front of the fireplace. However, the winter months in North Jersey also bring extreme temperatures, snow and ice, and fallen tree limbs or power lines as the result of blizzards. Here are some common winter roof woes, and what you can do to repair and maintain your roof for many seasons to come.
Structural Damage
Winter weather can put a lot of stress on your roof. Temperatures fluctuate, snow collects, ice dams form, and wind can hit hard against your home. All of these can compromise the integrity of your roof, creating splits, cracks, and other breakages in your shingles. These winter factors can also exacerbate an existing issue. Additionally, the extra weight of the snow and ice that collects puts a lot of extra stress on your roof, leaving it that much more susceptible to structural damage.
If left unrepaired, splits and cracks in your roof can lead to water damage and other more serious structural damage, meaning even costlier repairs down the line. For this reason, it’s a great idea to have your roof inspected by a professional who can identify any faults in your roof, and address those issues as soon as possible.
Sliding Snow
Heavy snow that has piled up on your sloped roof may eventually slide off. This heavy snow can cause some serious damage to whatever sits beneath it, possibly causing structural damage to other parts of your home
Even worse, this snow can slide unexpectedly onto you or anyone else in the home, resulting in potentially serious bodily injury. The same can also be said for the heavy ice that may collect around the perimeter of your roof and gutters and can fall in large chunks or icicles. The best way to avoid this is to have the snow and ice removed from your roof by a roofing professional, ensuring your home is as safe as possible during the winter season.
Falling Trees and Power Lines
After a blizzard or other winter storm, it’s common to see limbs torn from trees and fallen power lines. But when these fall on your roof, they can damage shingles, gutters, and flashings. Consider having your roof covered ahead of harsh winter weather to mitigate these issues. And if a tree limb or power line does fall on your home and causes serious damage, it’s important to have a roofing professional on hand for any emergency repairs required to keep you and your family safe.
But what if you are away for the season, enjoying sunny climes?
Introducing Slate Roof Professionals’ Snowbird Program
Winter weather in New Jersey is bound to put stress on your roof–and put stress on you when you are away and cannot manage the problem. At Slate Roof Professionals, our Snowbird Program for NJ residents offers 24/7 access to maintenance and repairs by our professional roofers (with a specialty in slate roofing). This program gives you peace of mind knowing that through any winter weather, your roof is being properly cared for, even when you’re away.
One call from you (once you’ve been alerted to the problem), or your property manager or home security team, and our expert roofing team will arrive at your New Jersey residence in 24 hours or less (depending on weather conditions).
Feel free to reach out to Slate Roof Professionals for more information on how to sign up for our Snowbird Program and keep your NJ roof and gutters protected against those winter roof woes!