Is Your Roof Ready for the Colorado Winter?

Don’t let the weather fool you, the Colorado winter is right around the corner and there are a few things to keep in mind when preparing your roof for the snow. If your roof is not in good condition, it is important to know that while you can roof your house in cold weather, it needs to be dry and the finished product may be of a lesser quality. Most roofing companies have a specific set of requirements about what type of weather they will roof in, usually a roofing company will not roof in weather colder than 40 degrees. When it comes to very cold weather many things can happen that will negatively affect the quality of a roof such as, adhesives can freeze and underlayment can become brittle and easily broken.

Another important aspect to take into account during the winter is the presence of ice dams. Unfortunately because roofing in the winter can result in a poor finished product, ice dams usually require some sort of a quick fix until weather conditions are warmer. Quick fixes that people can try are calcium chloride or rock salt to melt the ice, heat tape, or probably the best option is something thermostatically controlled and made from heavy gage wire. The worst quick fix option for ice dams would be using a chisel or pick to remove the ice, which can result in damaging the roof further. Using cheap heat tape can also result in a house fire.

Condensation during the winter can also result in roof issues. When the warm air from the inside of the house hits the bottom side of the roof deck, condensation that is harmful to your roof can occur. The solution to condensation is to install a vapor retarder at the ceiling level. This will result in trapping the warm air and not allowing it to get to the bottom of the roof deck, preventing condensation.

Fortunately, Advanced Roofing Technologies has a 24/7 Emergency Repair Line that will connect our customers directly to an on-call Repair Technician. Call Advanced Roofing Technologies today to talk to someone about preparing your roof for the wintertime, (970) 495-1175.