Roofs act as a home’s first line of protection against the external elements. Freezing rain can cause severe damage to your roof by creating a layer of ice that leads to structural issues. Unlike snow, which you can easily remove, freezing rain coats your roof with a slick, heavy layer of ice that can worsen leaks. Roofing and Rain offers expert services to help protect your home from these harsh conditions
Protecting your roof decking from storm damage is essential to keep your house safe and avoid expensive repairs.
Let’s begin by understanding the adverse effects of freezing rain on your roof and how restoration companies can help you control the damage.
The Impact of Freezing Rain on Your Roof
The first concern that often arises when considering freezing rain is its potential danger. According to data from the Insurance Information Institute, winter storms, including freezing rain, have caused nearly a billion dollars in damage.
Major Leaks and Cracks: Snow accumulation can strain your roof considerably. Over time, this pressure can lead to major leaks and cracks. If you don’t have proper leaking roof repair services, your roof might collapse.
Development of Ice Dams: Apart from the weight of freezing water, your roof may develop ice dams. When the snow on your roof melts and then refreezes at the edges, it creates a barrier that stops water, and you end up with an ice dam.
Mold Growth: Water can seep under your roof and into your interior spaces to cause mold growth and water damage.
How Does Rain Damage Your Roof?
Hearing raindrops falling on your roof can be peaceful and comforting—until the rain becomes too intense, especially if it’s freezing rain. Before diving into how freezing rain can damage your roof, let’s first understand what causes it.
Freezing rain occurs when raindrops don’t freeze entirely before reaching the ground. This happens because of a very thin layer of freezing air. As the raindrops hit surfaces, they instantly freeze, forming a layer of ice on anything they touch. But how exactly does this affect your roof?
- Leaks: One of the most common issues caused by heavy rain is leaks. Prolonged rainfall can enlarge small cracks or holes in your roofing material, allowing water to seep into your home. This can lead to water damage in your walls, ceiling, or attic.
- Overflowing Gutters: Gutters divert water away from your house and roof. However, during intense downpours, debris like leaves can block gutters. This causes water to accumulate at the base of your house, potentially leading to foundation damage.
- Shingle Damage: Heavy rain combined with strong winds can damage shingles by lifting or tearing them off, leaving the roof deck exposed to further rain damage.
- Structural Damage: If your roof is already compromised, prolonged, intense rain can cause significant harm. The accumulated water can weaken the roof’s structural integrity, leading to sagging or even collapse.
- Mold and Mildew Formation: Continuous moisture from heavy rain can promote the growth of mold and mildew on your roof, especially in shaded areas. Mold can be a health hazard, and studies show that children growing up in moldy homes are more likely to develop asthma.
- Damage to Flashings and Sealants: Excessive rainfall can erode the sealants and flashings around roof penetrations such as vents, skylights, and chimneys. If these areas are not correctly sealed, they become vulnerable to water intrusion, leading to leaks and further damage.
How Can You Prevent Freezing Rain from Damaging Your Roof?
You should always take preventive measures to protect your roof from damage from winter storms. The most important thing is to ensure you get regular service throughout the year to keep your roof in the best condition.
Conduct Regular Inspections
Getting roof inspections every six months will save you money and effort in the long run. It is generally advised that you get professional inspections from roof leak experts a day after snowfall. This way, they will be able to check for leaks and cracks.
Even though tiny cracks might not seem harmful, they can grow larger, resulting in leaks, water damage, and mold. Ignoring a little fault on your roof may result in costly fixes or even a whole roof replacement. So, before winter begins, fix any leaks and cracks.
Don’t forget to check the outside of your roof. Your main goal in this situation is to find signs of moss. If moss does manage to get on the roof, it will need to be chemically removed. You should also check for missing or damaged shingles. While this doesn’t always indicate a leak, if the damage worsens, it could quickly become a leak.
Clean Roof Gutters
Clean your gutters and downspouts regularly to guarantee proper water drainage. Water backup caused by clogged gutters may harm your roof and cause leaks. Consider installing gutter guards to prevent leaves and other debris from piling up. Gutter guards reduce the likelihood of water damage and the need for routine cleaning.
Get Your Trees Trimmed
Cut small branches or tree limbs that hang over the house. A tree branch hanging over your roof will deteriorate it.
When huge branches fall off completely, they can cause severe damage to your roof, possibly even shattering roof timbers or entirely breaking through. Trim your trees yearly and keep their limbs at least six feet from your roof. This will help prevent leaves and other debris from piling up on your roof.
Get Some Tarps
Tarps are hard to come by after a storm. Home improvement businesses frequently run out of materials like plastic and tarps. If the storm damage is extensive, shortages of supplies may affect even roofers. So, purchase some tarps and store them before the winter season to prevent any harm and unnecessary temporary repairs.
How Can Restoration Companies Help Fix Roof Damage?
Roof damage from rain can be unsettling, and you need instant monsoon cleanup services. After rain damage, it is important to begin restoration as quickly as possible to avoid additional damage.
Here’s how the restoration companies will help fix the roof damage.
1. Immediate Roof Leak Detection and Damage Inspection
Restoration companies evaluate the damage by conducting a detailed analysis of the roof and surrounding areas. They check for missing or damaged shingles, leaks, water stains, structural damage, and cracks through which water could seep further. You might need a minor leaky pipe plumbing service or major roof deck repairs.
The restoration company will photograph and document the damage extensively and in detail, an essential step in filing an insurance claim. Their experience with insurance companies helps facilitate the process.
2. Emergency Roof Tarping and Sealing
Restoration companies offer emergency tarping and sealing to protect your home from further water damage. They cover exposed areas of your roof with waterproof tarps to prevent rain and debris from entering. Sealing off these openings immediately can prevent damage from worsening, such as mold growth, further structural deterioration, and water infiltration into new areas.
3. Water Extraction and Drying
Restoration companies use commercial-grade water extractors to remove standing water from attics, ceilings, and walls if rain has led to heavy water intrusion. They also use powerful industrial dehumidifiers and air movers to remove humidity from difficult-to-reach places.
4. Mold Remediation
Water pumped into your home creates ideal conditions for mold growth. Pretty soon, you’ll have a first-hand mold problem. That is why, in times of water leakage, you should request an immediate inspection and testing for mold and hire a mold removal company if mold is found.
If mold is detected during inspection, the restoration companies will stop its growth by treating infected places with antifungal agents and the conditions responsible for mold growth.
5. Roof Repair and Replacement
Restoration companies will replace missing shingles, repair the underlayment and stem leaks, and mend the roof’s structure, depending on what is needed to fix the damage. In some cases, it makes sense to replace an entire roof, and restoration companies can help you with that.
6. Structural Repairs
Water seeping through the roof can cause significant structural damage inside your home, including sagging ceilings, damaged beams, or fractured rafters. The structural stability of your home is very important. Restoration companies will thoroughly evaluate your roof-damaged home for any structural damage.
If your home has structural damage, restoration companies can perform repairs to ensure its stability is fully restored.
Contact Referral Hub to Connect with Rain Damage Restoration Experts!
Don’t let rain damage compromise your home’s safety and comfort. If you’ve experienced roof damage from rain, it’s important to act quickly to prevent further issues like leaks, mold growth, and structural deterioration.
At Referral Hub, we connect you with trusted and experienced rain damage restoration experts who can evaluate the damage, provide immediate repairs, and restore your roof to its full strength.
Do you need the best-in-class rain damage restoration experts? Contact us today for a free consultation and to take the first step towards protecting your home from future rain damage.
