While your roof may be have been built to withstand heavier snow loads, the higher than average snowfall may have caused enough pressure to weaken the structural design of your roof. Never take anything for granted especially since you have no idea if a single heavy snowfall will be all your roof needs for it to cave in. If you are uncertain if your roof can still hold up, call an expert to make an assessment before the temperature drops. This way, you will still have time to replace the damaged shingles, reinforce the beams and make all necessary repairs to get your home ready for winter.

Source: Worldweatherpost.com

1. Weighs on your gutters

With the sloping on your roof, the natural resting point of melted snow is at the eaves, where there is no more heat below it. It is here that water refreezes and causes the ice dams. The longer it sits there, the more likely its weight will strain your gutter and rip it out.

2. Creates water leaks

Once the ice dam has formed on your eaves, it will block the flow of melted snow from your roof. The backed up water will then seep into through the crevices underneath your shingles and into the interiors of your house. The water damage may not be as alarming as your house being flooded, but it will weaken the structure of your home if left unattended.

3. Damages the shingles

Aside from wrecking the interior of your house, the stagnant water will give you that added bonus of rotting your shingles. Thus, you will not only be replacing your gutters, you will be spending money on your shingles as well.

Source: Thisoldhouse.com

1. Ridge line

The condition of your ridge line can be a warning sign if there is stress on your sloping roof. Any sagging should be looked into and fixed.

2. Interior doors

The doors in your house are also indicators of roof stress and subsequent water damage. Check how every door swings, opens and closes so you can have basis of its movement. After a heavy snow storm would hit, check again your doors before climbing up to your roof to clear it of the load. If the door jams, it means there is pressure from the roof; otherwise, you can rest easy that your home is still structurally sound to bear the weight.

3. Plaster walls

Cracks on your walls is another basis that the snow on your roof is too heavy to be held up. In the summer, familiarize yourself with the present state of your walls so you can identify later if the cracks are new and have appeared right after a snow storm.

Source: http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/maho/gemare/gemare_006.cfm#stress

An eavestrough is one of the most important parts of the roof. It is commonly known as a rain gutter to most people.

Its purpose is to collect all the water from the roof and guide them toward the downspout to pour down the drain. This will prevent the water from going to places in the house that should not be wet. An example is moisture in the attic which needs to be dealt with right away.

What to do with Leaking Eavestrough

An eavestrough with leaks can do a lot of damages to the house and homeowners can repair the rain gutters themselves. When repairing an eavestrough, there are crucial parts that need to be attended to.

Among the common areas where the damages are seen are the joints and the corners. Leaks can be easily found in this junction. The easiest thing to do is to use adhesive paste or a caulking. Allow to dry before testing out if the leak has been covered.

There will also be times when the damage of the eavestrough involves an entire section of it. In these cases, you cannot simply just cover the damage but it will be better to replace the part with a new rain gutter.

• Measure the section that needs to be replaced and purchase a new one in the hardware.
• Cut the old section carefully. When cutting the new section, make sure to get an allowance on both sides so that there is extra space to clamp it with the other portions of the gutter.
• The edges can then be sealed with caulking.
• Again, allow it to dry or else the caulking will just be washed away and will lead to leakage.

Fixing leaks in the eavestrough is as important as repairing roof leaks. Aside from leakage, homeowners should also fix the rain gutter if it sags. It must always flow towards the downspout and not anywhere else. Make sure that there is an angle so that the water can flow through the force of gravity.

1. Clear the drains.

A windy autumn season will shower leaves and debris into your roof faster than you can sweep them out. This is the time for you to get up there and prevent the blockages.

2. Check for weak spots.

Any missing shingles and dark spots must be noted and repaired. You may not be able to predict how bad the snow loads would collect on your roof but you can at least get your roof ready for them.

3. Modify if necessary.

When your roof structure and position relative to its surroundings is such that snow drifts could not be avoided, your immediate concern is to know that despite the stresses that will be heaped on it, its strength should still be able to withstand them. Otherwise, you may have to let a roof contractor review its slopes, valleys, vents and other design elements to re-structure them before winter comes around. Note, however, that any modification can result to possible new ponding areas that could collect melted snow and rain. When in doubt, a slope will always be better than any flat surface.

Source: Benchmark-inc.com

The Reasons

• They are very strong and durable.
• They can last for years and can withstand extreme heat or severe cold.
• Other places where earthquakes are common also use metal roofs instead of bricks because the materials could endure the shaking of the ground without breaking apart.
• If pinned down properly, metal roofs can resist strong winds brought about by hurricanes.
• Metal roofs are preferred due to their structural features and aesthetic capabilities.
• This type of roofing can be tweaked to look good and add an impact to the overall design of the building or a house.

There are also roofs that are mainly intended for a more functional purpose. Whatever roof type is used in the structure, it must always be maintained regularly. Ice damming solutions have to be established to prevent the roof from getting damaged due to water and ice accumulation.

The Maintenance

Metal roofs are very practical and durable, that’s why many houses and buildings today still use these materials in their establishments. But after several years of getting exposed to different and harsh weather conditions, wear and tear would be a normal condition.

Metal roofs are very prone to rust. And once corroded, roof leaks will surely give you a headache. They may damage the other parts of the roofing structure.

It is true that leakages can be easily solved but as time goes by, more and more seepages will be seen due to the rusting of the old roofing materials.

Since old metal roofs have already lost their integrity, a new solution using membrane retrofits can actually aid in solving the problem. This will prevent future expenses on roof drips and repairs.

These retrofits can be placed directly on top of the old metal roofs and they can function flawlessly. This new roofing feature will protect a structure from rain, heat, snow and it can also withstand earthquakes. You can count on roofing experts for this undertaking.

There are different materials that need to be installed in order for the roof to endure several factors that are causing damages. These will allow your attic to have enough supply of air naturally and suffocation will not be a problem.

Roof vents play vital roles for the natural ventilation system of your attic which will eventually save your roof. There are various types of vents that are available today depending on the needs of your house. Hereunder are the natural vents that you can choose from.

• Roof Ridge Vents. These are the vents that are being installed at the highest part of your roof. Accumulated hot air inside will have the chance to go up and escape through these openings.
• Turbine Vents. These dome shaped vents are created to catch wind which will cause the spinning of vents letting hot air to be pulled out of the attic. The downside of these is that without wind, they will not function well. They also need to be covered during winter time because water may enter the attic through them.
• Pot Vents. These vents are installed through a hole in the upper part of the house and they appear like an upside down pot. No energy is needed for this kind of vent.

Attic ventilation is very important in protecting your roof. You can use natural system or the mechanical one which requires solar or electric operated motors to ventilate the upper part of your house. In which way, you need to talk to a roofing expert to install the devices professionally.

For an quick face-lift

There is no rule that prevents a homeowner from putting on new gutters even though they are not in need of gutter repair or replacement. Those that have just painted their outdoor walls with new colors or have installed upgrades and would wish the new colors would match with their gutters, then they go ahead and rip out the old ones. As long as these will be installed properly, new gutters will indeed freshen up the look of the house and, if the house is on the market, they may even help sway a potential buyer to make an offer.

To restore its function

More than its looks, gutters are up there for a purpose. When they cease draining the water off the roof due to clogging, rust, debris and other reasons, then a homeowner have little choice but to take them down and replace them with new ones. Dented gutters will also disturb the flow of the water so homeowners who are concerned about preventing water from being redirected elsewhere will replace the gutter altogether.

Source: Roofingwindows.net

For one, you run the risk of damaging your shingles or your gutters if you are not careful enough. Second, you will be exposed to all the hazards that come with working on the top of your ladder.

Potential gutter repair and physical injuries notwithstanding, you will even stand to benefit more if you can find the original contractor who installed your roof. If you have just bought the house from the original owner or if the previous owner had the roof repaired, request from them the name of their contractor because you can at least be assured that they know your roof and can work on it faster. If this information is not anymore available, you can ask from your neighbors for recommendations because these contractors are likely to be more familiar with the types of roof installed in your area.

Source: http://www.builders-in-devon.co.uk/?p=5167

Once you have decided on how to go about your rooftop snow removal, you will have to think of a safety net of some sort just in case you will slip from your roof or ladder. You can tie a lifeline for this purpose or brainstorm of some other way to ensure that you will be safe if accidents do occur. Indeed, snow removal will require more than having enough muscle to rake the snow off and if you are not up for it, you can always call on a roof contractor to do the job.

Source: Memicsafety.typepad.com