Here Are Key Roofing Problems to Be Ready For This Winter
Longtime Omaha residents know that winter can be a challenging time here on the Great Plains. Between freezing cold temperatures, heavy snowfall, and intense wind storms, there are a lot of threats to your home and your roof. Most homeowners know to be prepared for things like roof snow removal, but what does the full list of common winter roofing issues look like?
Here at Anchor Roofing, we feel that education is a key part of keeping your roof performing at its best. As a locally owned and operated roofing company based in Omaha, we’ve experienced many winters—and seen what winter’s harsh weather can do to roofs in the area. To help you prepare, here are some of the most common roofing problems to know about.
Ice Accumulation & Icicles 
Freezing temperatures will inevitably create ice around your home. While much of this is inevitable, sometimes dangerous or damaging situations can arise as a result of neglecting certain areas of your roof.
In particular, ice is likely to accumulate as a result of poorly functioning or clogged gutters. Gutters that are full of debris will not efficiently remove melting water from your roof and will eventually fill with ice, potentially tearing away from your home. Overflowing gutters can also lead to dangerous icicles, which can fall and cause injuries.
Ice Dams
A more extreme version of ice accumulation is an ice dam. Ice dams occur when snow and ice melts from one area of your roof before refreezing and collecting in another portion of the roof. Typically, this occurs because one part of your roof is much warmer than the other—most often, the area closer to the peak of your roof compared to the edge lower down.
Ice dams can weigh several hundred pounds, and as temperatures warm with the approaching spring, they may come free all at once. This can be incredibly damaging—and deadly—so homeowners should ensure their roof is properly ventilated to avoid extreme temperature imbalances.
Attic Condensation
Winter is a season of temperature differences. You’ll want to keep your home warm, of course, while the freezing temperatures howl outside. When warmer air meets colder surfaces, however, condensation is often the result.
This is especially common in attics that are poorly ventilated or insulated. Warm, moist air from the interior of your home will rise, eventually meeting the underside of your roof without adequate ventilation. If the roof is also poorly insulated, it will be much cooler, causing condensation. This leads to high amounts of moisture in your attic, which can cause mold, mildew, and even rot.
Snow Accumulation
Lastly, snow accumulation is pretty much inevitable during the winter. And while a few inches of snow is generally not a problem, high volumes of snow—especially compacted or moist snow—can strain your roof through the sheer accumulated weight.
In some cases, it may be possible to carry out snow removal from your roof yourself. A roof rake can be a useful tool to have, as this will make the process easier, and these tools reduce the risk of damaging your roof. We do not recommend climbing on your roof to remove snow, as if the snow is already excessive, the added weight of walking will only worsen the situation.
In other cases, it may be necessary to call a professional to complete roof snow removal. Most roofing companies will already have the tools needed, and as professional roofers, they know how to remove excess snow without jeopardizing the health of your roof.
Is Your Roof Ready for the Winter? Complete an Inspection to Find Out
Some common roofing issues, such as snow accumulation and wind damage, will be impossible to avoid entirely during the winter. Others, however, are preventable—especially when it comes to monitoring your roof’s ventilation.
At Anchor Roofing, our team provides the most thorough roof inspections in the business, assessing your roof inside and out to ensure it’s functioning as it needs to. Before winter sets in, complete an inspection with our experts to finalize your checklist to winterize your roof.