How the Extreme Cold Impacts Your Home |
Posted: January 24, 2018 |
This year has just begun, yet we’ve already experienced some record-breaking temperatures across North America. With “bomb cyclone” and “polar vortex” making headlines, the extreme cold has had us all running for the warmth of our duvets. Even areas like Florida have experienced snow, which is definitely an uncommon phenomenon. While the massive dips in temperature are definitely not ideal, these special weather conditions actually do more damage than just making us miserable. When it comes to your roof, the extreme cold can impact it more than you might think. While we are used to living in cold climates, and our homes have been built to withstand low temperatures and cold fronts, when the thermometer plunges this low, our roofs can suffer. Here are some ways in which the extreme cold can impact your home. Damage to Trusses In case you’re not sure, roof trusses are pre-fabricated wood framing, and they’re often in the shape of a triangle. This creates the roof pitch and it supports the roofing material. Ceiling insulation covers the bottom section of the triangle, with the sides and upper areas exposed to the outside temperatures. When the extreme cold hits, this causes a problem. The insulated bottom remains close to the interior temperature, while the upper sections of the truss dip down to the exterior temperature. This single piece of framing is then divided in temperatures, with the lower parts expanding with the heat, and the upper parts contracting with the cold. Because of the contradiction in movement, the truss lifts. You might hear a creaking or popping noise in the attic, along with a visible crack separating the center of your house. Once the temperature warms up again, the truss lift condition generally recedes, but can easily occur again the following winter. To counter this problem, it’s advised to lower your thermostat a bit when it is very cold, as this will bring the outside temperature and inside temperature closer together. Truss lifts are difficult to identify, so hiring roofing contractors to help you check out your roof might be wise. Impact on Attics In the winter, we typically seal up our homes tight – windows and doors are properly shut so no air gets in, which can trap moisture in (think of steam from bathing, cooking, or exercising), and we also crank up the heat. This combination can have a big impact on your attic. Because attics don’t generally have a specific heat source, they maintain the cold temperatures of the outdoors, instead of the warmth of the interiors. This can create condensation. Too much condensation can then cause mildew and mold, it can dampen the insulation, deteriorate wood framing, and encourage infestation. Your attic needs to be properly sealed in order to prevent these things from occurring, and it must be done prior to the cold months. Heavy Weight of Accumulated Snow With areas that are prone to lots of snowfall, this can pose a problem for roofs. When spring is nearing, the heavy snow that sits atop your house begins to absorb rainfall, causing it to become even more heavy. This incredible weight can cause structural damage, break rafters and lead to catastrophic collapse of the entire structure. A worry that is more common for those with older homes, heavy snow can impact the framing that is below modern standards. With newer structures, this is generally okay, but for houses that were put up in a hurry, there could be framing problems (wrong size, and/or the spacing of the framing is off when it comes to rafters, trusses and purlins), or they haven’t been properly connected (inadequate or improper nailing, improper or inadequate rafter bearing on the top plate or at the ridge). The concern of heavy snow is thus a serious one, and inspecting your home prior to the onset of winter is smart in ensuring your roof will be able to withstand the entire season, and the inclement weather that is impending. Ice Dams Ice dams are concerning as they can leak into the walls of your home, leading to a very costly mold, rot, or insect problem. It may look fine on the outside, but these types of problems are generally bigger than meets the eye, with a professional required to gauge the true damage. While many people believe that ice dams just affect the area in its immediate vicinity, the reality is that these types of build ups can very often leak into the attic or roof cavity, leak into the building walls, and is basically an invitation to allow in wood destroying insects and mold contamination. Ensure your gutters are properly cleaned before the winter sets in to avoid ice dams from causing major problems. If you notice ice dams, get them removed as soon as possible. The Best Type of Roof To prevent some of the above problems from occurring, choosing your roof is an important part. Metal roofs are durable and can withstand the snow and heavy winds. Because of the material being smooth, snow and ice slide right off of metal roofs, preventing leaks and icicle build up. Asphalt and Cedar wood shingles are a great, affordable choice. They are strong enough to protect your home from cold temperatures, and the heavy weight of snow. Cement tiles work great in the winter when it comes to withstanding low temperatures, heavy snow, and harsh winds, and they are also fireproof. One of the most durable roofing materials available, cement tiles are the equivalent of three layers of asphalt shingles. Because of their weight, be sure that the rest of your structure can withstand their weight. Solar panels are wonderful when it comes to heating your home. Collecting energy from the sun and turning it into electricity to heat your home, active tiles allow you to avoid turning up the thermostat in the winter, keeping you warm, but preventing truss lifts from forming. Passive solar tiles capture the hot air which causes snow and ice to melt right off your roof.
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