At this time of year in winter, there is the risk of snow and ice everywhere, particularly on those cool and chilly mornings.

Of course, usually, people are concerned about how this affects the ground; after all, that’s where people and vehicles can easily slip over and be harmed.

However, it’s important not to forget how this can also affect a roof area, as although it may be out of sight, it can never be entirely out of mind.

Therefore, here are three quick tips to ensure you don’t get caught out with a blanket of snow on the roof. After all, it may look pretty, but problems can be lurking behind the scenes:

1. The Weight Factor

If you have a good coat of snow on a roof, maybe a foot or higher, that is far heavier than you think. And more importantly, it’s the weight that the roof was not necessarily designed to have.

Therefore, any signs of bowing of the roof joists or slipped tiles can soon arise – particularly for older period properties or flat roofs.

Plus, even the external guttering, which has the weight of snow slipping down the roof pitch, can soon suffer under strain.

2. The Wind Factor

With snow can come wind, which can cause an even bigger issue to resolve.

Suddenly, snow and rain can be blown into areas of a roof that generally do not receive this; for example, under flashings and coping on parapet walls.

Therefore, watch out for sudden leaks in places that would not usually receive these, as the snow and water find a new course to travel.

3. The Drain Factor

And finally, remember that snow has to eventually melt away and cause a large amount of water on the roof. Think of it as a large sponge suddenly being squeezed-out on the roof.

Plus, add to the fact that the snow's weight is still pressing against the roof, then watch out for leaks springing in places like box gutters where all this water has to try and escape eventually.

Stopping Roof Problems With Ice

As you go through these roof issues that can be caused by snow and ice, you’ll often find that it’s too late once it’s happened.

You can’t suddenly remove all this with a magic wand after it has come down, and therefore you will have to wait for it to thaw out and see what damage is done afterwards.

However, these tips help spot the issues when this happens and prevent severe roof damage beforehand.

A well-maintained gutter and roof area, well before the snow comes, can help stand up to the weight and water penetration issues that come later.

Therefore, contact us today for further help and advice and a free no-obligation proposal for your property.