Water Damage From Snow On Roof

Ice and water protector sometimes also referred to as ice and water shield is a waterproof roof underlayment membrane developed to protect vulnerable areas on a roof from ice and water damage.

Water damage from snow on roof.

Will your roof cost you thousands this winter. Growth of moss and mold can concentrate the moisture in that area weakening the shingle and the ceiling beneath. Once the water gets to the bottom of the roof it hits the eave and freezes. A pipe burst because you left water in the lines or shut the heat off in sub zero weather a tree toppled and damaged your home but there s obvious evidence of disease or rot water seeped through the roof due to poor upkeep or inferior workmanship you neglected your sidewalk and someone injured.

10 12 inches of new snow is equal to 1 inch of water or about 5 pounds per square foot of roof space so you could have up to 4 feet of new snow before the roof will become stressed. As snow is frozen water some of the damage it can do is only covered by flood insurance. The eaves do not warm up as much as the rest of the roof so the water can collect there and refreeze into a thick sheet of ice. Ice in gutters and downspouts is virtually impossible to remove without.

An ice dam on the roof can cause severe water damageto the roof structure attic and even the interior of your home. Insurers report that most homeowner s insurance claims for snow damage to the roof are actually related to water damage caused by ice dams not the heavy weight of snow accumulation on the roof. Shingles keep your roof safe from collapsing by letting water and snow slide down. In order for it to occur the lower portion of the roof that over hangs the wall needs to be colder than the section of roof above it.

Gutters flat roofs and possible ice damage. Your insurance may protect you against damage from melting snow but that depends where the snow came from. If the upper portion of the roof is warmer it is able to melt snow into water which flows down the roof. Ice dams snow on your roof and attic condensation excessive snow on the roof attic condensation and ice buildup can cause roof damage water damage and personal injury.

However water can make way into the ceiling through gaps and holes in the shingles. Ice and water protectors sometimes called ice and snow shields in cold climates are made with polymer modified bitumen. 3 5 inches of old snow is equal to 1 inch of water or about 5 pounds per square foot of roof space so anything more than 2 feet of old snow could be too much for your roof to handle. Ice dams form when the snow on your roof melts and the water collects along the eaves.

If snow on your roof melts and damages your house that s legally different than if it melts on the ground and floods your property.