Although roof maintenance, repair, and replacement are important issues for homeowners anywhere, Minnesota roofs face some unique challenges since the local weather patterns lead to increased general wear and tear and a comparably higher probability of storm damage.
Minnesota roofs face a high degree of weather variance that increase the general wear and tear faced by area roofs. The wide range of temperature experienced leads to more frequent expansion and contraction of the roof sheathing than is found in more consistent climates. This expansion and contraction in the sheathing can ruin shingle integrity by causing them to fracture or buckle. The more temperatures vary over time, the more times the roof is forced to contract and expand to accommodate. Over enough time, the roof’s structural ability to adapt will lessen and the shingles have a higher probability of being damaged when the roof is forced to accommodate the temperature swings. In addition to the temperature variations, changes in moisture levels can have an even greater impact on a roof’s longevity. While excessive rain can exacerbate already present moisture issues in an old or damaged roof, the biggest moisture issue faced by Minnesota residents is ice. When rain or snow falls on your roof, cold temperatures can freeze those moisture in-between tiny areas of separation in your roof. As the moisture freezes and expands, it also expands the crevices and openings within your roof that it has settled into. The more time that ice freezes and unfreezes within areas of your roof, the more likely permanent damage from the expansion of those crevices becomes. The more times snow or ice thaws and re-freezes, the worse this process becomes, since melting snow or ice will run and settle into new crevices before re-freezing and expanding new areas within your roof’s structure. Extreme temperate swings and ice production like we see can cause severe damage structural integrity of Minnesota roofs, causing accelerated general wear and tear when compared to more moderate climates.
The high probability for storms in Minnesota also makes the climate especially difficult for local roofs. High winds and hail are two of the most dangerous adversaries that a shingle can face. Depending on a number of factors, storm damage to roofs can range from being very obvious to extremely difficult to spot. Even if the damage is not immediately apparent, the structural integrity of your roof may have been damaged and lead to serious issues in the future. Signs of hail or wind damage can manifest itself in a variety of ways. If you have any doubt, your best bet is to have your roof inspected by a certified professional. The clearest signs of damage include missing shingles or buckling, cracking, dimpling, or bald spots on the shingles themselves. Other good indicators are granules in your gutters or downspouts and/or dented or damaged roof vents, flashing, gutters, or downspouts. Extreme or latent damage can reveal itself in the form of sagging, wet spots, dark spots, or leaking. Minnesota roofs are due to increased risk of storm damage because of the proportionately large amount of storms we see each year.
The weather in the Minnesota has created a double threat to homeowner’s roofs: Major temperature changes and storm damage can both lead to severe damage. Whether that damage announces itself overnight or over the course of many years, it is important to be up to date on your roof’s maintenance in order to best avoid any issues.
This information has been brought to you by Snap Construction, the number one rated roofer in the Minneapolis metro according to Angieslist.
