Ice can be a destructive force for your roof, even if you don’t experience more than one or two ice storms a year in North Georgia. Ice creates more pressure and condensation on the top of your home, the kind that can easily make its way in if you’re not careful. Here are a few consequences of leaving your roof exposed to the elements during the winter.
Water Seepage
Ice dams form along the perimeters of your roof, creating a barrier that’s perfect for icicles to form. The ice that covers your roof is far thinner than those of the ice dam, so when it melts, it will essentially pool on the roof rather than fall off the side of the house. The problem is that water can begin to work its way under the shingles because it has nowhere else to go. From there, it can affect the overhangs of the home, the walls, and the ceilings.
Ice Dams
While this might not seem like the biggest problem in your area, even the infrequent ice storms the roof endures can cause trouble for your roof. Ice dams form on the edges of the roof, which can ultimately affect the drainage of the roof. The extra weight from the water can cause the roof to leak and may even lead to widespread sagging if left for too long.
Cave-Ins
The more stress the roof is under, the more likely it will buckle under the weight. It’s usually not just one ice storm that creates a large enough force, but it can certainly be a factor. The ice combined with all the other precipitation your home receives over the fall and winter will cause serious duress on the lowest part of your roof. When it’s forced to bear a load that can ultimately be too much for it to handle, you’ll start to see the roof sag before collapsing entirely. If you don’t see a full cave-in, you may notice the gutters or flashing begin to split from the main structure.
Cracks
You’ll typically see cracks form in the roof when the weather is volatile. So you may have water thaw during the day, only to have it refreeze at night. If this cycle repeats itself too many times, the roof will ultimately start to show wear and tear from the odd pressure patterns. If water seeps into a crack of the roof and then freezes, it will expand the size of the crack and force the shingles of the roof to warp and move away from one another. The home may experience plenty of movement on the roof before you see the undeniable evidence of damage.
There’s little doubt that your roof was built to sustain stormy weather, but even the best materials will start to show their age after a while. If your home in Georgia has experienced a few winters without a roof inspection, it may be time to jump on the ball. Because your roof is largely out-of-sight, you’re likely not going to see if cracks are beginning to form between the shingles until the whole structure starts to dip. A professional from Assurance Residential can catch the problem long before you have to worry about the forecast. Call us today at 404-600-ROOF or fill out our form to schedule a free consultation and estimate. We serve the Atlanta, GA and surrounding areas, including Lawrenceville and Athens.
