Roof leaks are common issues during the rainy season. If you haven't had an expert roofer look into it, your attic can endure water damage and suffer from severe structural roofing issues. In this post, you'll learn about the four typical sources of winter roof leaks.

Damaged Flashing

Flashing damage is a typical source of roof leaks. They're galvanized steel or aluminum strips that cover your skylight, chimney, and other roof structures that don't seamlessly overlap with asphalt shingles. The metal strip lets them overlap with the asphalt shingles and prevents water leaks in your attic. 

Over time, flashing will start to rust and have integrity issues. A regular roof inspection can reveal its problems before they worsen. In worst-case scenarios, roofers can replace the flashing during a routine check before summer rains and the cold of winter arrives.

Cracked or Missing Shingles

Asphalt shingles can endure leaks during winter if their integrity and structure has started to fall apart. Inspectors may ask you to replace cracked and broken asphalt shingles to reduce its vulnerability to leaks. Once again, this proves that roofing inspections are an important part of prolonging your system's lifespan.

Aged asphalt shingles are prone to cracking and loosening. They've lost much of their structure and protective granules. Their material has become so flimsy they easily crack under the weight of normal debris and heavy rains. Most shingles suffer from cracks and splits by the time they're 15 or 20 years old after installation.

Ice Dam Formations

Ice dams form on your roof because it has unequal temperature across the surface. A cold area will freeze the snow above it while hot areas will melt it and infiltrate your roofing material. The most efficient way to solve ice dam formations is by achieving excellent attic insulation to balance roof temperatures.

Roofing contractors can design and build the best ventilation system suitable for your roof. First, they would inspect your attic and check its temperature and humidity level. Next, they would see if air flows in and out of your roof efficiently. Lastly, they would build more soffit and ridge vents to reduce the temperature on your roof.

Extreme Snow Loads

You must regularly remove the snow on top of your roof after a blizzard or heavy shower to reduce the weight it pushes against the roofing structure. The sheathing and rafters used for your roof can only carry enough weight for your set of asphalt shingles; taking extra weight from the snow would damage its structure and may cause it to collapse.

You can hire a snow cleaning specialist to remove the snow from your roof. If you can climb a ladder and stay long on it, you can clear the snow yourself using snow-cleaning equipment. 

SJ Winn Construction is a reliable roofing company that has helped homes in your area with all their roofing installation and replacement needs. We're a company that aims to deliver top-notch service and full satisfaction to our customers. Call us today to learn more about what we can do for you.