Some Fun Facts on How a Roof Makes It Through a Montana Winter
You have to admire how your roof puts up with the Montana winter. When you see all the snow heaped over your home and put two and two together, it is natural to ask what is going on overhead in sub-zero weather and how the structure bears the weight of it.
We at Seal Tight Roofing and Siding, LLC can tell you. In our 20 years or so of putting roofs in Billings and the environs we have picked up on the way they contend with the wind, the cold and the snow. We would be happy to talk roofing with you at (406) 672-6561, but before you do, consider these tidbits.
Snow Has More Weight to It
Homeowners are often taken aback by this: snow is no featherweight. The kind of wet, packed variety has heft to it. Any roof made for Montana will have been put to the task of supporting a considerable load; the building codes in this state are written with our annual heavy snowfall in mind.
Then again, there is a difference between one type of snow and another. A foot of fresh powder is light enough. But let it sit and compact or go through a cycle of melting and refreezing and it is a different story. Old snow will put more weight on your roof than new.
Ice Dams Are an Uphill Battle
Winter brings ice dams and a roof has to deal with them. The process is simple enough:
- Some heat from the house makes its way to the attic
- Warming the deck of the roof
- Which in turn melts the snow on top
- The water makes its way to the cold edge and turns to ice
- Building up and holding back more water behind it
There are ways to counteract it. A well insulated home will keep the heat where it should be. And with good venting in the attic the roof deck stays even and cold to stave off the melting. Details like that make all the difference.
Do Not Underestimate Attic Venting
In a way, venting is the unsung hero when it comes to winter roofing. Most would say the purpose of an attic vent is to cool things off in the summer and they are not wrong. In the wintertime however, it maintains a steady, cold temperature on the roof to forestall the melt and refreeze that ice dams are made of.
A system in balance will draw air in low and let it out high, a flow that also takes care of any moisture, something of import in a climate as cold as ours.
Gutters Have Work to Do
They are not there for looks. Gutters are to ensure water is channeled away from your foundation. Come winter they must cope with freezing and thawing. Should they become clogged or damaged the water will back up and create ice issues at the edge of the roof. A little upkeep in this area is repaid over the course of the season.
Skylights Are Up to the Task
Skylights have their appeal, allowing you to view the snow from the comfort of your home as the light comes in. While modern ones are constructed for the cold, it is the seal that is your defence against the elements. One should give it a once over; when the snow goes you will find any leak at a weak point.
Wind Can Be as Much of a Problem as Snow
Montana wind will test a roof as much as snow does. A good gust will lift a shingle or some flashing and force moisture in where it is not wanted. A roof put in right is fastened to resist it, which is the reason workmanship is of such consequence here.
Be Prepared
Your roof is hard at work in silence through the winter and trouble has a way of coming at inopportune moments. For that reason we are on hand 24/7 for any emergency so there is no waiting around if conditions deteriorate.
Seal Tight Roofing and Siding, LLC is A+ with the Better Business Bureau and covers Billings as well as Bozeman, Livingston, Roundup, Lockwood, Laurel, Shepard, Hardin and beyond. An estimate is free of charge, so if you have a query about any of the above or want an inspection prior to the first snow, ring us at (406) 672-6561.
