Melting snow raises concerns about roofs
Central Ohio’s 15 straight days of below freezing temperatures and the beginning Monday of a thaw can take a heavy toll on homeowners’ roofs and gutters, causing splitting, cracking and leakage, roofing experts say.
Most of the calls Atlas Roofing and Siding on the Far North Side has received recently are due to ice damming problems, said owner Clancy Malone. Ice damming occurs when water collects and freezes around areas such as the gutter or where roof lines converge.
“Water will find its way downward – that’s how roof and gutters are designed, for water to flow down and out,” Malone said. “When we get ice, it’ll literally build up, grow and breach areas that water doesn’t normally get to because it grows upward and outward as it expands.”
The ice can channel water into the home, causing it to seep inside homes through vulnerable areas like roof-towall connections, skylights and the base of chimneys said Bill Schmidt, owner of Brothers Roofing and Construction in Worthington.
On the building’s exterior, Schmidt said brick and mortar walls, roofs and wooden siding can fracture.
“The various swings and weather – hot and cold, freeze and thaw – that’s when it takes its toll on any part of the building,” Schmidt said. “A roof is designed for water to flow off of it, not to just sit on it. Otherwise, it’s going to leak.”
If a roof is leaking, homeowners can try to remove snow and ice from the
area, although Schmidt warns that most people are unable to identify where the water is coming from and may cause more problems.
Atlas Roofing and Siding offered services to remove ice buildup in the past, but stopped when they noticed that chipping at the ice or burning it with a torch caused damage to the gutters, shingles, fascia and soffit area.
Malone said the best thing to do is be patient and wait for the ice to melt. In the meantime, identify leaks or damage to see what parts of your home are weakest and plan for improvements so that future deterioration can be prevented.
Homes with newer roofs should have built-in safeguards like drip edges and ice guards, which prevent water from backing up and flowing into the home. Malone said that although it’s a code requirement for homes to have these components, many don’t because they’re too old, incorrectly built or may have the wrong gutter guard.
Even if one does experience leaking or damage, it’s important to stay calm and not overreact said Steven Shaw, branch manager at Bone Dry Roofing in Hilliard. He said homeowners tend to panic when rare, extreme weather events occur.
“It’s a lot of snow, and we don’t normally have that kind of snow coverage all year,” Shaw said. “You don’t want systemic issues that are going to lead to mold and rot and long-term issues, but you’re going to have some shortterm pain (and) that’s not indicative of the overall condition of the roof.” escottmoran@gannett.com @emmascottmoran
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