How Professionals Fix Roofs That Are Packed With Snow

When you think of getting a new roof or repairing your existing one, you don’t likely think about the snow. However, roof repairs are necessary year-round. Understanding how roofing professionals deal with snow can give you some insight into what’s possible for your home’s roof.

Snow Can Be Moved

Just like shoveling snow from your driveway, roofers can shovel it off of your roof. This simple process can take some time and will likely cost you some extra money than if you were to have your roof repaired in the snowless months of summer. Each roofing company is a little different in what they use to clear off your roof. It could be a rake, shovel, snowblower, or squeegee system.

The Extent Of The Repair Matters

The most common reason that you’ll be calling in a roofing professional in the winter months is if there was either damage to your roof or there is a leak. Either way, your local residential roofing expert will clear out the snow surrounding the damage or leaking site. In most cases, they won’t need to clear the entire roof to do the necessary repairs.

Replacing Shingles Requires Heat

If your roof repair requires replacing shingles, this can be a problem without heat. Most shingles are made from asphalt as it’s a fairly inexpensive material. However, for it to be effective, the seal between the shingles needs to be heated up. This allows the seal to bond correctly. Formally, these types of shingles are referred to as thermally-activated. These shingles are designed to have their sealant heated by sunlight for a couple of weeks before a complete seal is activated.

Speeding Up The Sealing Process

If there are no sunny days after your roof repair or there is bad weather still to come, your roofing contractor may take another approach. There are various asphalt roofing cement products that are available to hand-seal the shingles together. This eliminates the need for the thermally-activated shingles. You should be consulting with your local roofing professional to see if they plan on using one of these cement sealants to ensure there is good bonding on your roof.

Fixing a roof in the cold winter months is something that roofing contractors are all too familiar with. Hopefully, you now have a better idea of how this type of repair works and what you need to pay attention to. It’s best to talk over the process with a local roofing contractor to ensure that they’re doing the job that you need them to.