Can snow cause problems to a flat roof?
It’s that time of year again. Parts of the country have been submerged by Storm Frank and although we have enjoyed a brief respite and milder weather in the last couple of weeks, it won’t be lasting any longer. The temperatures are plummeting, with forecasters predicting that this winter will be the coldest in 58 years.
So is your property winter-ready? Will it be able to handle a drastic drop in temperature? Or is the very real risk of snow in the coming weeks filling you with dread?
Historically, snow has never been a flat roof’s friend. Traditional flat felt roofs – or roofs that are already in need of repair – can succumb to a harsh winter. This is because a flat roof cannot rely on gravity to shift of any snow or ice like a pitched roof can. Compacted snow weighs more than you think – in fact, just a square foot can weigh approximately 50lbs. Traditional flat felt roofs are not designed to deal with such a weight. Heavy snowfall can lead to a puncture in the felt and in some cases, total collapse.
Melting and refreezing snow and ice can also cause havoc to an ageing roof. We often hear homeowners comment, ‘My flat roof is fine most of the time – it”s only when it snows and the ice melts that we end up with a leak.’
Often, snow will refreeze at the edges and joins of your roof, expanding any cracks and tears and seeping further downwards as it continues to melt and refreeze. Ultimately, this water is likely to end up exactly where you don’t want it – in your home.
Why not get rid of my flat roof altogether?
You may be tempted to eradicate the problem by tearing down your flat roof and looking into a pitched roof alternative.
However, it is important to remember that many countries that are much colder than the UK still use flat roofs and suffer no detrimental affect in the harshest of conditions. The performance and durability of a flat roof is down to the quality of the roofing product and the workmanship of the people installing it.
High-Tech Membrane Roofing’s market-leading single-ply PVC roofing systems are engineered to provide the highest level of performance possible. 100% waterproof, storm resistant, dimensionally stable, UV resistant, unaffected by expansion and contraction, safeguarded against moss, algae, blistering and cracking, maintenance-free… and all of this is guaranteed for life!
We are licensed installers of the unique Anti Slip Protan Flat Roofing Systems, Saranfil Waterproofing Systems and Alritra Membranes. We offer insurance-backed guarantees, which provides you with total peace of mind. Our installers are all fully trained and are continuously monitored and assessed to ensure that standards remain high. We have now installed more than 5000 domestic flat roofs across Essex, Kent and London.
Simply put, if you choose a superior product, you will enjoy a superior result – a flat roof that can withstand the worst the British weather can bring. And all at a price you can afford.
Don’t wait until melted snow and ice infiltrates your home – call High-Tech today to enquire about a replacement flat roof.
