Winters are great at creating the perfect conditions for a roof collapse.
When our winters are in full swing. they bring many unexpected roof related problems (including the dreaded roof collapse) in the process.
Heavy snowfall and ice dams this season can contribute to the ultimate homeowner’s nightmare — a potential roof collapse.
Structural damage to homes is quite common due to the fact that many homes are older, with deteriorating foundations and roof structures.
In addition, snow can weigh a lot, with dry snow packing in a total of 6-8 pounds per cubic foot, while wet snow can weigh double that!
Add in the weight of ice dams and moisture retained in the roof and the load that your roof can safely withstand is quickly surpassed.
This is especially true for low pitch and flat roofs, which have no way of shedding this excess weight and are at the greatest risk of buckling under all this excess weight.
As well, many modern renovations in Kelowna have taken away integral support beams in the process of creating open concept spaces.
Without proper support being re-distributed to the remaining walls, shifting floors and sagging roofs are the result, like a Kelowna couple experienced who bought a renovated ‘open concept’ home recently.
As a building contractor in Kelowna, I’ve been in many homes where the doors and windows don’t close, the floor is at an angle and the home’s foundation is shifting due to faulty renovations.
Inexperienced and uneducated contractors are a dime a dozen in this city, available for the lowest bid without a proper license or acceptable level of education.
It’s the same story in the roofing business, where many roofers have no education and are lacking in knowledge of building structure.
This contributes to the dangerous and shoddy work I see being done.
Since the city doesn’t regulate who is working on your roof or house, it’s the duty of the homeowner to do their due diligence and check their contractor’s or roofer’s roofing credentials and verify their experience in the field.
Unfortunately, this is often neglected in lieu of a high-pressure sales pitch, fancy website that makes all kinds of promises or, most likely, a really low bid.
Don’t be fooled and please don’t rush into anything: take your time and make the right choice as you will almost always end up paying more in the long run, anyway.
What are the signs of a pending roof collapse?
Having a roof collapse can be a nightmare, both financially and personally, so look for the following signs that your house is at risk:
- Sagging sections of exterior shingles
- Sagging ceiling
- Severe or repeated roof leaks
- Cracks in the exterior masonry or walls
- Cracks in interior walls or ceiling
- Bends or ripples in the roof supports
- Sprinkler heads that have dropped down below ceiling tiles
- Doors or windows that are difficult to open
- Doors that pop open on their own
- Bent or bowed utility pipes or electrical conduits at the ceiling
- Creaking, cracking or popping sounds coming from the roof
If you are experiencing any of these early warning signs, seek advice from your local Kelowna building inspector or Kelowna flat and shingle roofer promptly.
Preventative steps to ensure a healthy roof in the winter:
- Keep drains, gutters, and downspouts clear of ice and debris so that the roof can drain freely
- Ensure downspouts are the correct length not to freeze at the bottom
- Do not shovel snow against downspouts
- DON’T use open flames to ‘melt’ the snow or add weight to the roof with equipment or your weight
- Better yet, call a roofing contractor to clear snow, icicles and ice off your roof. It’s a dangerous job even for the professionals
- In the warm months, repair or replace damaged roof shingles before they leak
Yearly roof inspections on your Kelowna home by a qualified roofing professional will help you identify any type of roof damage and prevent expensive fixes in the future.
Make sure that your roof is in prime shape and can withstand the elements, including any snowfall, by having Archer Roofing inspect your roof this spring.
Contact us to set up an appointment.