Snow, Ice and Freezing Temperatures: Experts Share the Best Roofs Designed to Withstand Winter Weather
Wintertime images of rooftop snow look dreamy this time of year, but the nightmare comes when you wake up to what those cold winter weather forces may actually be doing to your roof.
What’s the cold, hard reality when it comes to choosing the best roof for your home, if you happen to live in a region that gets a lot of snow, ice and freezing temperatures? MRA Executive Director and roofing expert Renee Ramey offers advice and shares the pros and cons for how to choose the right roofing material for your home.
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingle roofs are common and can be cheaper to install upfront, but they aren’t a great option in regions that get a lot of snow and ice. That’s because freezing and thawing can make asphalt shingles brittle and subject to cracking. Loose shingles can also allow water underneath, which freezes and expands, worsening the problem. Those cracks can lead to leaks, repairs and worst case, a full roof replacement.
Sliding snow and ice can scrape the protective mineral granules off the roof, pre-maturely aging the roof which means you may have to replace it sooner than you had planned. According to MRA member Englert, granule loss is not just cosmetic—it signals that your roof is losing its protective layer, and once that begins, failure can follow quickly. Asphalt roofs also are subject to ice damming due to uneven temperatures that cause condensation to melt and then re-freeze.
Slate and Tile Roofs
Slate and tile roofs are substantial and protective, but they can be extremely heavy. Add snow and ice on top of them—which can equal hundreds of extra pounds—and you’re putting a serious strain on the structure of your house.
The big danger is all that stress can cause older or non-reinforced framing to fail and collapse under the extra weight of snow and ice. Reinforcing framing is expensive, and slate and tile roofs are also subjected to the same issues as asphalt where ice in cracks that expands may displace tiles, and lead to leaks and other problems.
Metal Roofs
Metal is among the strongest and lightest weight roofing materials, and depending on installation methods, it is also weather-tight against snow and ice melt. The stability of metal means it isn’t subject to expansion/contraction, making it one of the top choices for homes in regions that get a lot of snow and ice. Because metal roofs shed snow and ice naturally and easily thanks to their smooth surfaces, it is important to always incorporate a well-designed snow guard system to prevent rooftop avalanches. They can be more expensive than other types of roofs, but they also can last 50 plus years, making them a good long-term investment.
Quality metal roofs also have excellent coatings designed to be protective and energy efficient. They are easily cleaned, which is important especially when moisture from snow and ice has sat on your roof for a long time before melting, which can lead to problems on other types of roofs like fungal and moss growth. Always follow your manufacturers cleaning instructions to avoid damage and never use corrosive ice-melt salts (like sodium chloride) or any other harsh chemicals that may pit or degrade metal panels.
Cedar Shakes and Wood Shingles
The biggest issue with wood roofs is they absorb moisture and as a result, shrink and swell repeatedly, especially with temperature swings combined with moisture from snow, ice and rain. That leaves your roof vulnerable to leaks, rot, mold and premature aging. Wood shingles are not recommended in areas that get severe temperature swings (freezing precipitation in the winter and blazing hot summers) because wood is much more likely to fail and need treated every year to prevent problems.
No matter what your roof type, never attempt to try and clear snow and ice from your roof. Even with proper safety equipment, it is never safe to get on a roof or be on ladders that are slippery from moisture, snow and ice.
