What Denver Winters Can Do to Your Roof – And How to Prevent It
Colorado’s beautiful winter landscape can be tough on your roof. Freezing temperatures, snow accumulation, ice dams, and freeze-thaw cycles are just a few of the elements that can shorten the life of your roofing system if you're not properly prepared. Here’s how Denver winters impact your roof — and what you can do to protect your home.
Freeze-Thaw Damage
In winter, daytime sun can melt snow on your roof, only for it to refreeze at night. This constant expansion and contraction can cause shingles to crack and create gaps for water to seep through. These freeze-thaw cycles can gradually deteriorate roofing materials and lead to leaks.
Prevention Tip: Ensure proper attic insulation and ventilation to regulate roof temperature. This helps reduce uneven melting and ice formation.
Ice Dams
Ice dams form when warm air escapes from the attic and melts snow on the roof, which then refreezes at the eaves. Water gets trapped behind the dam and can back up under your shingles, causing major water damage.
Prevention Tip:
Improve attic insulation
Seal air leaks
Consider installing heat cables in trouble areas
Snow Load
Heavy snow accumulation can put stress on your roof’s structure. While most homes in Denver are built to handle snow load, older or damaged roofs may be at risk of sagging or collapse.
Prevention Tip: Hire a professional to remove heavy snow buildup, especially after back-to-back storms. Don’t try to shovel your roof from the ground — it’s dangerous and can damage shingles.
Flashing Leaks
Flashing around chimneys, vents, and skylights can become compromised after extreme cold and moisture exposure. These weak points are often the first to leak in winter.
Prevention Tip: Have a roofer check flashing during your fall inspection and reseal or replace any compromised sections.
Gutter Damage
Gutters clogged with ice or debris can crack or detach from the fascia. Frozen gutters can also lead to roof edge damage and contribute to ice damming.
Prevention Tip: Clean your gutters before the first snowfall and check for proper slope to ensure water flows away from your home.
Denver winters can be brutal, but a proactive approach to roof maintenance makes all the difference. Ideal Roofing and Solar provides pre-winter inspections to identify and fix vulnerabilities before the snow hits.
Contact us today to schedule your winter roof check-up.