When it comes to answering ‘how does snow and ice affect a flat roof?’ certain factors such as the quality of materials and workmanship must be looked into.
Yes it’s December so the plummeting temperatures shouldn’t be that surprising. But is it just us, or does it feel colder earlier this year?
As we all prepare for the holiday season, there are a few things you may desperately want to ignore… the amount of calories you’re likely to consume over Christmas and New Year, your rapidly depleting bank balance, the fact that your flat roof may not be able to cope with the cold weather…
However, it is important to ask two questions: ‘How does snow and ice affect a flat roof?’ and once you know the answer, ‘Can my flat roof withstand the winter?’
You may automatically think that heavy snow can damage any flat roof but you would be wrong. In reality, as long as your flat roof is constructed of high quality materials and fitted by professionals, it will have the capability to hold the weight of heavy snowfall
Think about it for a moment – there are many other nations that are far colder than the UK that have overwhelming annual snowfall and flat roofs are commonplace. Flat roofs are designed to withstand the most adverse of weather conditions.
However, traditional felt flat roofs do not perform as well in freezing temperatures. Therefore, if you are having issues with your flat roof this winter, it is almost certain that you either have a felt roof or one that is ageing and needs to be replaced.
How does snow and ice affect a flat roof?
A single square foot of compacted snow can weigh 50lbs. And unlike pitched roofs, a flat roof cannot rely on gravity to get rid of snow and ice. This increased weight can put a strain on a roof, particularly garages, shed and carports, as they are usually made of felt and have not been built to withstand the level of weight snow can add to a structure. This makes a flat roof more vulnerable to snow and ice damage than a pitched roof.
Heavy snow can puncture felt flat roofs; in some cases the additional weight has led to the roof collapsing.
Another issue is caused by snow and ice melting and refreezing on your flat roof. This is a natural occurrence, as the snow is warmed by the sun or any heat escaping your home during the day, before cooling back down at night. The result of this may be an ice dam, which forms when snow melts and refreezes around joins and edges. Water can seep under the roof and then refreeze and expand, creating even larger holes and gaps. When the water melts again, it creates cracks in the walls and wood until you end up with leaks in your home.
What should you do if you are concerned about your flat roof?
Now that we’ve answered ‘how does snow and ice affect a flat roof?’ and determined that your roof may not be up to the task, the next step is working out whether to repair or replace it. In our experience it is usually far more cost-effective to opt for a superior, advanced flat roofing system than to try to repair a substandard product that is likely to fail again in future adverse weather conditions.
By choosing a market-leading product – and ensuring that it is professionally installed – your flat roof will protect you and your home for many years to come.
High-Tech Membrane Roofing has carefully chosen only the finest suppliers; our single-ply PVC membrane roofing solutions are designed and engineered to form a 100% waterproof covering. They are unaffected by expansion and contraction, resistant to moss and algae, maintenance free and guaranteed to protect you from the warmest summers and coldest of winters.
In fact, we are so confident of our products’ quality and our staff’s workmanship that every flat roof comes with a rock solid, no quibble LIFETIME guarantee.
So to the question: ‘how does snow and ice affect a flat roof?’ Simply put, snow and ice won’t affect it at all as long as your flat roof is from High-Tech Membrane Roofing!
We hope you found our article ‘How does snow and ice affect a flat roof?’ of interest. If you would like to learn more about our flat roofing products, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01268 856 845.
