How Winter Weather Conditions Affect Your Virginia Home’s Roof

Northern Virginia winters can be beautiful. However, they’re not without several challenges, particularly for homeowners. When it comes to snow and ice, you should be especially mindful of your roof and stay on top of maintenance as the winter months approach. Let’s take a look at two winter-specific concerns that affect your roof and consider how Sunshine Contracting can help provide you with solutions.

Ice Dams

You’ve likely heard of “ice dams,” pesky blocks of solid ice that accumulate in your gutters during deep freezes. In addition to damaging your gutters, ice dams can also force their way into your shingles and sheathing, punching holes in your roof and leaving you exposed to unwanted rodents and insects during the warmer months. There are a few home remedies that can help prevent ice dams, but to prevent future long-term issues, you’ll want to shore up your roofing system to keep ice out of your gutters.

Sunshine Contracting can help you prevent ice dams in a few different ways. First, we’ll take a look at your gutters. If they aren’t functioning well, we’ll replace them with a new system that will work efficiently — keeping costs down in non-winter months when proper drainage is needed during rainstorms.

Next, we’ll check your attic’s insulation system to find any leaks. Ice dams are often the result of improperly distributed heat along the surface of your roof. Making sure you can evenly dole out heat across the top of your home can help prevent ice from accumulating in one specific area. After that, we’ll make sure your attic is properly vented. This step works in tandem with shoring up your attic’s insulation system, ensuring heat is not building up in one particular spot and forcing ice to collect in your gutters.

Snow Build-Up

Ice isn’t the only wintry mix that can damage your roof and home. As snow accumulates, it can place a heavy load on your roof’s infrastructure, straining your shingles, sheathing and framing. After a few winters, if left untreated, your roofing system runs the risk of structural warping, leading to a poor drainage system and running the risk of collapse.

It’s smart to be proactive about your roof and address any issues before they arise. Sunshine Contracting can help prevent snow damage to your roof in several different ways. First, we can ensure your roof’s framing is in good condition and help shore up any deficiencies that may exist. Next, we can discuss re-sloping your roof. Altering the slope of your roof can help improve its ability to drain properly, allowing snow to slide off easier in the winter and rain to trickle down to your gutters in the warmer months.

To learn more about how winter weather conditions affect your roof and how we can help, contact Sunshine Contracting today for a free consultation and estimate. We have been recognized by the Better Business Bureau, Angie’s List and Qualified Remodeler magazine for our excellent work and dedication to customer satisfaction. We proudly offer roofing services in Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun and Stafford County.