With the recent snowfall, homeowners in Oregon are concerned about driving conditions and slipping hazards, but they should also be concerned about damage to their roofs and other property. If you’ve noticed a leak or rapid snow melting on your house (as compared to neighbors), don’t hesitate to call a Salem roofing company for an estimate.
If you would like to try to assess your roof’s hardiness against these wintery conditions for yourself, here are a couple of things to keep in mind. If the snow on your roof is melting much more quickly than the snow on your neighbor’s roofs, chances are you will need to invest in improving your insulation, because your home is not holding heat as well as it should. Snow melting rates are actually one of the easiest ways to tell if you are lacking in insulation. On the other hand, if the snow on your roof is melting much more slowly than your neighbor’s, you may be overinsulated, which can lead to ice damming. Read further to learn about that.
Check the areas around your downspouts. Do you see any ice or water that dripped from your gutters/downspouts in areas that could cause problems (by your foundation, for example)? If so, consider purchasing extensions or looking into potential gutter issues that may need repair.
Finally, ice dams. In the Salem, Oregon area, we don’t often have to worry about ice dams, at least not nearly as often as the Midwest or Northeastern states. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms along the edges of a roof and doesn’t allow snow melt to run off. This holds moisture and can wear your roof down. It can actually allow moisture to run up underneath your shingles and expand (if refrozen), which often leads to leaking. If you are concerned about an ice dam, call Slate & Slate Roofing for a free Salem roofing estimate at (503) 585-2338. Stay safe and happy holidays!
