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The Influence Of Ice Dams

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If you live in a cold weather climate, protecting your roof winter rolls around is serious business. Winter weather can result in severe damage to your roof and costly repairs, but there are several things you can do to minimize the negative effects of cold weather and winter storms. Loose Shingles Strong winds during winter storms can loosen and damage shingles. Once a shingle is loose, it can damage adjacent shingles when it's blowing around. Contact a roofing contractor if you notice any loose shingles. Replacing them early will be easier on your wallet than waiting until more damage occurs. Falling Limbs Keep any trees near your roof trimmed back and tidy to prevent damage to your roof from broken limbs during winter storms. This will …show more content…

This happens when the flashing wasn't attached properly, when it pulls away from the roof during storms or when it's deteriorating from weathering or rust. Have a roofing professional inspect your flashing twice a year and replace them if you notice any leaking to prevent water damage to your roof, recommends Angie's List. Ice Dams Ice dams occur when the ice on the upper portion of a roof starts to melt and the lower portion of the roof is still frozen. As the water from melted ice and snow near the top of the roof slides down, it can accumulate near the bottom of the roof and re-freeze. This creates a dam that doesn't allow water to roll down. The water pools on your roof and can start leaking into your home and damaging your roof. Ask a roofing professional to inspect your attic insulation and ventilation and check your roof for weathered shingles that could allow water to pass underneath them to help protect your roof against ice dams. Icicles Although they may look pretty, they can lead to serious injuries if they fall on a person or animal. They also put excessive weight on your gutters and roof and can lead to damage. Clean out any debris from your gutters as often as you can to hinder icicle

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