Did the 2019 Polar Vortex Damage Your Home’s Roof?

02.04.2019

This crazy weather could be wreaking havoc on your home, especially your home’s roof.  Now that the polar vortex has subsided you can expect an 80-degree spike; your home’s roof will be put to the test.  This polar vortex has put immense stress on your home’s roof, sometimes to a point of breaking and cracking.

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Ice Dams

Freezing temperatures cause your home’s roof to expand. This expansion puts great stress on the roof’s components. Freezing can cause ice dams on your home’s roof.  The temperature difference between the inside and outside temperature can force the snow on the roof to melt, then refreeze into an ice dam.  The ice dam traps melting runoff, forcing water through roof cracks and soffit joints into your home.

Signs of ice dams:

  • Large icicles dripping from the roof
  • Water stains on walls, especially in corners between ceilings and edges of exterior walls
  • Water drippings through light fixtures
  • Soft spots on drywall
  • Drenched carpets

In order to repair damage caused by ice dams, you must have your attic sealed up and improve insulation.  Install soffit gable or ridge vents to force heat out and prevent melting of accumulated snow.

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Frost in Attics

Frost accumulates when moisture-laden air from your home gets into the attic.  When moisture gets into the attic, it condenses on the roof sheathing in the form of frost.  The melting of this frost can cause major problems when everything gets wet. The melting frost can lead to deterioration of roof sheathing, mold on the roof sheathing, wet insulation, and water stains on the ceiling.  Frost comes from air leaks, so your home’s attic needs to be sealed.

Here are some of the other effects the polar vortex can have on your home’s roof:

  • Ice build-up under shingles
  • Shingle deterioration
  • Seams of your home’s roof begin to tear and split
  • Joints crack and separate

All of these effects can lead to roof leaks.

Signs of roof damage include broken, buckling, blistering and missing shingles, cracked rubber boots around vent pipes, rust spots on flashing, inside drywall that shows dark water stains, feels wet, soft, and looks like it’s bulging or blistering.

Repairs to be made include repairing damaged shingles, caulk flashing around chimney, skylights and attic vents.

Contact Us

If you think your roof has been damaged due to the recent polar vortex, contact Smart Construction and Remodeling. We are a home improvement and storm damage repair company you can rely on. We are proud to serve Minneapolis, St Paul, St Cloud, Shakopee, Edina, Inver Grove Heights, Bloomington, Blaine, Burnsville, Minnetonka, Apple Valley, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, Plymouth, Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Elk River, Forest Lake, and Woodbury, MN. Contact us at (612) 216-1186 to receive a roofing estimate.

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