If you live in areas like Wisconsin or Illinois, your town probably experiences a good amount of snowfall and ice throughout the winter months, which is stressful to your roof for many reasons. Severe weather during this time of year is some of the most disastrous. Freezing temperatures mean your roofing materials are more brittle than normal, and the constant back-and-forth between sunny days and blustery ones means your roof is constantly in a freeze-thaw cycle. This can allow for water leaks to start popping up if there are any cracks or missing shingles on your roof, so it’s important to call a contractor straight away.

Ready Roof has been servicing Illinois and parts of Wisconsin for over 25 years, and we know all about smart roof repairs during the colder half of the year. Below are some of our best tips on what to do and what to expect when your roof needs some work done while there’s snow on the ground and below-freezing temps.

Tarping is a Must in the Colder Months

If your roof is experiencing a leak, it isn’t something you want to put off until spring. Because of the frequency of freeze-thaw cycles during Wisconsin winters, ice and snow will turn into water on warmer days, allowing it to seep into cracks and gaps in your roofing, only to turn back into ice on the next cold night, expanding and worsening these cracks or leaks. 

Because of this, when you notice issues with your roof in the winter, you’ll want to cover it with a tarp immediately until a contractor can come take a look.

Call Roofers with Experience in Winter

Emergency winter repairs should be completed by a roofing contractor with experience working in these conditions. For starters, ladders and roofs will be slippery and make for a hazardous work condition. Roofers like Ready Roof, who complete roof repairs in areas like Wisconsin and Illinois that receive plenty of snow, ice and freezing temps during these months, will already know this and come prepared.

Winter-experienced roofers will have emergency roof repair winter materials on hand, such as specialized application products. Standard adhesives are less effective in winter, requiring some warmth to properly attach a shingle to your roof. And asphalt shingles themselves, which are typically very flexible, can become brittle when temperatures drop, but contractors with experience handling roofing projects during the colder half of the year will know the best practices to use.

Expect Delays in the Roof Repair Process

Unfortunately, fast December roof repairs cannot be guaranteed. The colder weather slows down the entire process for a number of reasons, with your slippery roof again playing a role here. Experienced winter roofers will know to work cautiously, paying extra close attention to where they’re stepping, which will make for a slightly longer repair service.

Some other major factors behind roof repair delays in Winter include:

  • Material Shortages
  • Less Daylight
  • Possible Bad Weather
  • Snow Removal

Get Rid of Snow and Ice Dams As Soon As Possible

Of the many types of elemental damage leading to urgent roof fixes snowstorms and ice dams are at the top of the list. Too much snow accumulated on top of your roof can put too much stress on your entire house, leading to structural damage if not removed.

Ice dams can wreak havoc on roof. Ice dams form when snow accumulates on your roof, melts, and refreezes at the edge of your roofline. This blocks all other water from draining properly and could leak to water damage not only on your roof, but even inside your home.

In many cases, calling an expert roofing contractor like Ready Roof is a good plan of action. After completing a thorough inspection, we can provide insight into necessary steps to take to ensure the safety and security of your roof all winter long and efficiently make any necessary repairs to gets your back into working order.

Reach out to Ready Roof today for a free estimate on our roof repair services and hear more about what we can do for you!